Illinois 
State  Geological  Survey 


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ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


3  3051  00000  3123 


LIBRARY. 


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STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 

DEPARTMENT  OF  REGISTRATION  AND  EDUCATION 

DIVISION  OF  THE 
STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 

FRANK  W.  DeWOLF,  Chief 


BULLETIN  No.  38 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


AND 


ECONOMIC  AND  GEOLOGICAL  PAPERS 


*■*$* 

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*«*** 


PRINTED   BY  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 


URBANA,  ILLINOIS 
1922 


(53005-1 M-7-21) 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://archive.org/details/yearbookfor1917138illi 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 
DEPARTMENT  OF  REGISTRATION  AND  EDUCATION 

DIVISION  OF  THE 
STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 

FRANK  W.  DeWOLF,  Chief 


Committee  of  the  Board  of  Natural  Resources 
and  Conservation 


A.  M.  Shelton,  Chairman 

Director  of  Registration  and  Education 


Kendric  C.  Babcock 

Representing  the  President  of  the 
University  of  Illinois 


Rollin  D.  Salisbury 
Geologist 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


State  Geological  Survey  Division,  July  1,  1921 

W .  H.  H.  Miller,  Chairman,  and  Members  of  the  Board  of  Natural  Resources 
and  Conservation, 

Gentlemen :  I  submit  herewith  my  administrative  report  for  the  fiscal 
years  begun  July  1,  1917,  and  ended  June  30,  1919,  together  with  nine  other 
papers  of  varied  character. 

It  is  the  duty  of  the  Geological  Survey  Division  of  the  Department  of 
Registration  and  Education  to  investigate  and  encourage  the  development  and 
conservation  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the  State.  This  work  has  two  chief 
phases :  first,  the  systematic  surveying  and  mapping  of  the  entire  State  in 
quadrangle  or  county  units,  and  second,  the  investigation  of  such  local  areas 
or  specific  mineral  industries  as  from  time  to  time  seem  to  require  attention. 

As  a  contribution  toward  the  systematic  mapping  of  the  geology  of  the 
State,  two  quadrangle  reports  covering  parts  of  Rock  Island,  Mercer,  Fulton, 
Knox,  Warren,  and  McDonough  counties  are  here  published. 

Another  report  of  permanent  value  is  the  presentation  of  production 
statistics  for  the  calendar  years  1917  and  1918.  This  work  is  carried  on  in 
cooperation  with  the  United  States  Geological  Survey. 

A  large  part  of  the  work  during  the  biennium  has  been  devoted  to  the 
investigation  of  oil  and  gas  possibilities.  A  report  of  these  activities  for  the 
period  has  already  been  published  as  Bulletin  40  and  only  brief  mention  of 
that  work  is  given  in  the  administrative  report  accompanying  this  volume. 

Most  of  the  work  of  the  Survey  during  the  biennium  has  been  specially 
adapted  to  the  war-time  needs  of  the  country  and  of  the  State  for  certain 
minerals  which  were  either  cut  off  from  import  or  were  needed  closer  to  the 
points  of  consumption,  in  order  that  rail  transportation  might  be  relieved. 
The  steps  taken  to  render  assistance  are  outlined  at  some  length  in  the  follow- 
ing administrative  report ;  and  the  short  papers  immediately  following  relate 
to  investigations  of  fire  clays,  optical  fluorite,  pyrite,  and  low-sulphur  coal, 
all  of  which  were  of  considerable  importance  during  the  war  period.  The 
accompanying  paper  on  oil  shale  is  not  related  to  the  war  work  but  was 
planned  to  meet  the  many  inquiries  regarding  oil  shale  possibilities  received 
by  the  Survey.  While  it  presents  little  new  information,  it  places  in  con- 
venient form  the  material  which  was  scattered  in  many  publications,  some 
of  them  difficult  of  access  to  most  readers. 

Four  of  the  papers  have  already  appeared  as  extracts  from  this  bulletin, 
namely,  those  on  optical  fluorite,  fire  clay,  and  quadrangle  areas,  but  the  others 
are  here  published  for  the  first  time. 

Very  respectfully, 

F.  W.  DeWolf,  Chief 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

1.     ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT,  BY  F.  \V.  DeWOLF 9 


2.     MINERAL    RESOURCES    OF    ILLINOIS    IN    1917    AND    1918,    BY 

N.  O.  BARRETT 2; 


3.  GEOLOGY  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  THE  EDGINGTON 
AND  MILAN  QUADRANGLES,  BY  T.  E.  SAVAGE  AND  J.  A. 
UDDEN    115 


4     GEOLOGY    AND    MINERAL    RESOURCES    OF    THE    AVON    AND 

CANTON   QUADRANGLES,   BY   T.   E.   SAVAGE 209 

5.     FURTHER   INVESTIGATIONS    OF    ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS,    BY 

C.  W.  PARMELEE  AND  C.  R.  SCHROYER 272 


6.     OPTICAL  FLUORITE  IN  SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS,  BY  JOSEPH  E. 

POGUE    419 


7.  THE  ILLINOIS  PYRITE  INVENTORY  OF  1918,  BY  G.  H.  CADY..  427 

8.  LOW-SULPHUR  COAL  IN  ILLINOIS,  BY  G.  H.  CADY 432 


9.     NOTES    ON    POTASH    POSSIBILITIES    IN    ILLINOIS,   BY   C.    R. 

SCHROYER    435 

10.  NOTES  ON  ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES,  INCLUDING  RE- 
SULTS OF  THEIR  EXPERIMENTAL  DISTILLATION,  COM- 
PILED BY  N.  O.  BARRETT 441 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT  FROM  JULY  1,  1917 
TO  JUNE  30,  1919 

By  F.  W.  DeWolf,  Chief 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction    10 

General   statement    10 

Organization  and  personnel 11 

Cooperation   14 

Geological  and  mining  investigations  sections 14 

General  stratigraphy  and  structure 14 

Coal    15 

Pyrite    16 

Oil  and  gas 16 

Geological  surveys  of  quadrangles 17 

Clay    ,    17 

Investigation  of  highway  materials 18 

Mineral  statistics    18 

Bureau   of   information 18 

Topographic   section    19 

Publications    21 

Reports  and  maps 21 

Expenditures    21 

TABLES 

1.  Progress  of  field  work  by  the  topographic  section 20 

2.  Total  expenditures  July  1,  1917,  to  June  30,  1919 23 


10  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

f 

INTRODUCTION 
General  Statement 

During  the  biennium  beginning  July  1,  1917,  and  ending  June  30,  1919, 
the  work  of  the  Geological  Survey  was  chiefly  directed  to  encouraging  pro- 
duction of  certain  war  minerals  or  to  other  work  which  had  a  bearing  on  war 
needs  of  the  country  and  of  the  State.  Certain  essential  minerals  were  cut  off 
from  import  because  of  ship  shortage ;  others  were  needed  in  increasing 
amounts  by  war  industries ;  or  from  new  sources  near  points  of  consump- 
tion, in  order  to  release  transportation  congestion.  The  Chief  of  the  Divi- 
sion assisted  in  creating  the  War  Minerals  Committee  in  Washington  which 
had  for  its  purpose  to  determine  the  need  for  new  production  and  to  stimu- 
late cooperation  of  national,  state,  and  private  agencies  in  an  effort  to  meet 
the  requirements.  Later,  on  leave  of  absence,  the  Chief  served  as  Assistant 
Director  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  giving  special  attention  to  the  stimula- 
tion of  war-minerals  production  and  to  other  matters  of  importance  to  the 
prosecution  of  the  war  which  were  being  handled  in  large  volume  by  the 
Federal  bureau.  At  the  same  time  he  kept  in  touch  with  the  Survey  program 
which  was  being  ably  directed  by  Mr.  Savage  as  acting  chief. 

After  the  armistice,  some  of  the  war  activities  of  the  Geological  Survey 
were  continued  in  order  that  results  of  permanent  value  might  be  obtained, 
but  normal  work  was  resumed  as  rapidly  as  possible  in  harmony  with  the 
general  program  of  investigating  and  mapping  the  geology  and  mineral 
resources  of  the  State.  Normally  the  function  of  the  Survey  is  to  assist  the 
mineral  industries  and  the  general  public  by  making  known  the  location, 
depth,  general  character,  and  availability  of  our  mineral  wealth ;  and  since 
Illinois  ranks  third  in  the  value  of  its  mineral  products,  this  work  has  been 
of  state-wide  importance.  However,  it  was  largely  laid  aside,  as  already 
stated,  during  the  war  period,  except  in  the  case  of  certain  lines  of  investiga- 
tion which  were  not  only  justified  but  demanded  by  the  prevailing  situation. 

As  explained  in  a  later  paragraph,  the  topographic  program  of  survey- 
ing the  State  in  cooperation  with  the  Federal  Government  was  disorganized 
during  the  war  period,  but  one  quadrangle  was  surveyed  by  the  State  itself 
under  contract  with  a  private  firm.  Later  in  the  biennium  the  normal  pro- 
gram was  resumed. 

In  the  following  pages  will  be  found  brief  descriptions  of  the  organiza- 
tion and  personnel  of  the  Survey  and  of  each  of  the  activities  carried  on 
during  the  biennium.  The  statement  of  expenditures  (Table  2),  shows  a 
classification  by  subjects. 


administrative  report  \\ 

Organization  and  Personnel 

Beginning  July  1,  1917,  the  Civil  Administrative  Code  went  into  effect 
and  the  State  Geological  Survey  became  a  Division  in  the  Department  of 
Registration  and  Education.  A  Board  of  Natural  Resources  and  Conserva- 
tion was  appointed  to  collaborate  with  the  Director  of  the  Department,  in 
the  determining  of  policies  and  of  personnel  for  the  scientific  Surveys.  This 
Board  included  the  following : 

Ex  officio  members 

Francis  W.  Shepardson,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  Director  of  Registration  and  Education, 
Chairman 

Dean  Kendric  C.  Babcock,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  representing  the  President  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois,  who  resigned  on  October  30,  1917,  in  favor  of  Dean  David 
Kinley,  Ph.D. 

Appointed  members 

Thomas  C.  Chamberlin,  Ph.D.,  Sc.D.,  LL.D.,  University  of  Chicago,  representing 

geology 
William  Trelease,  Sc.D.,  LL.D.,  University  of  Illinois,  representing  biology 
John  M.  Coulter,  Ph.D.,  University  of  Chicago,  representing  forestry 
William  A.  Noyes,  Ph.D.,  LL.D.,  University  of  Illinois,  representing  chemistry 
John  W.  Alvord,  C.E.,  Chicago,  representing  engineering 

The  appointment  of  Doctor  Chamberlin  to  represent  geology  was  for- 
tunate because  his  service  on  the  Geological  Survey  Commission  had  been 
continuous  since  1905.  In  May,  1919,  however,  Professor  Chamberlin  ten- 
dered his  resignation,  and  as  his  successor  upon  the  Board,  Professor  Rollin 
D.  Salisbury,  head  of  the  Department  of  Geography  at  the  University  of 
Chicago,  was  chosen. 

The  Board  held  several  full  meetings  during  the  biennium  and  during 
the  interim  between  meetings  considered  and  decided  problems  of  the  Geo- 
logical Survey  Division  through  the  sub-committee  consisting  of  the  Director 
of  the  Department,  ex  officio,  the  representative  of  the  President  of  the 
University  of  Illinois,  ex  officio,  and  Professor  Salisbury. 

The  Survey  is  informally  subdivided  into  a  general  office  section  and 
three  technical  sections ;  geologic,  topographic,  and  mining  investigations. 
The  topographic  work  was  not  done  continuously  as  in  the  past  in  coopera- 
tion with  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  because  of  the  situation  which  arose 
during  the  war.  However,  before  the  close  of  the  biennium  normal  relations 
had  been  re-established.  This  work  was  under  the  general  supervision  of 
R.  B.  Marshall,  Chief  Geographer  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  and  the 
immediate  direction  of  William  H.  Herron,  Geographer  in  Charge  of  the 
Central  Division. 

The  work  of  the  Geological  section  and  of  the  Mining  Investigations  sec- 
tion was  administered  by  F.  W.  DeWolf ,  Chief,  the  latter  work  in  accordance 


12  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

with  a  joint  program  approved  by  a  representative  of  the  Mining  Department 
of  the  University  of  Illinois  and  the  Director  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines. 
The  Bureau  continued  to  maintain  an  office  at  Urbana  as  headquarters  for 
mining  engineers  and  chemists  engaged  in  the  cooperative  work. 

Due  to  war-time  uncertainty  and  the  unusual  demand  for  the  service  of 
geologists,  there  was  an  almost  complete  change  of  technical  personnel  of 
the  Survey  during  the  biennium. 

Mr.  Nebel,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  oil  investigations,  resigned  Septem- 
ber, 1918,  to  accept  an  attractive  position  elsewhere.  Mr.  Coryell,  who  joined 
the  staff  in  April,  1918,  as  geologist  engaged  on  oil  investigations,  took  leave 
of  absence  in  April,  1919,  to  resume  university  studies,  and  tendered  his  resig- 
nation in  June.  Mr.  Mylius  joined  the  organization  in  April  of  1919  and 
took  up  the  usual  oil  investigations,  and  also  the  engineering  aspects  of  con- 
trolling water  at  wells.  This  latter  work  had  been  commenced  by  Mr.  Nebel 
in  cooperation  with  the  Bureau  of  Mines  engineers.  Other  oil  work  was 
carried  on  in  the  main  fields  of  eastern  Illinois  by  D.  J.  Fisher  and  by  Marvin 
Weller. 

Several  complete  geological  surveys  of  quadrangle  areas  were  under- 
taken. Mr.  T.  E.  Savage  did  the  work  on  the  Jonesboro  quadrangle  in  south- 
ern Illinois,  assisted  by  Mr.  von  Schlicten,  and  at  the  same  time  Mr.  Knappen 
began  work  on  the  Dixon  quadrangle  in  northern  Illinois.  Later  in  the 
biennium  Marvin  Weller  was  assigned  to  the  survey  of  the  Campbell  Hill 
quadrangle  in  southwestern  Illinois. 

In  connection  with  investigations  of  fire  clay,  ganister,  and  silica,  under- 
taken largely  because  of  the  war-time  shortage,  Professors  Washburn  and 
Parmelee  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  were  appointed  as  consulting  ceramists, 
and  C.  R.  Schroyer,  geologist,  was  appointed  in  the  spring  of  1918  to  do  the 
field  work.  The  testing  of  clay  and  ganister  samples  in  the  laboratory 
required  the  employment  of  several  student  assistants  under  the  direction  of 
Professor  Parmelee. 

The  investigation  of  limestone  resources  was  outlined  in  a  preliminary 
way  early  in  1919  by  Mr.  Schroyer,  but  he  took  leave  of  absence  in  March 
to  resume  studies  at  the  University  of  Chicago  and  tendered  his  resignation 
in  June  on  account  of  ill  health.  The  work  was  later  undertaken  by  Mr. 
Krey,  assisted  by  Mr.  Lamar,  and  late  in  the  biennium  Mr.  Leighton  joined 
the  organization  as  expert  on  glacial  gravel  deposits,  but  with  the  under- 
standing that  he  would  give  part  time  to  the  Geology  Department  of  the 
University  of  Illiniois.     Mr.  Leighton  was  assisted  by  Mr.  Wingert. 

The  coal  investigations  of  the  Survey  were  carried  on  by  Mr.  Cady 
until  the  time  of  his  resignation  in  June,  1919,  for  an  engagement  abroad. 
Mr.  Culver  was  appointed  as  part-time  geologist  to  investigate  coal  problems 
but  with  the  expectation  that  he  would  give  half  time  to  the  University  of 
Illinois.    The  work  of  the  Mining  Investigations  engaged  much  of  Mr.  Cady's 


ADMINISTRATIVE    REPORT  13 

time  on  the  study  of  coal  resources,  pyrite  recovery,  and  the  occurrence  of 
low-sulphur  coals  suitable  for  gas  manufacture.  In  addition,  William  A. 
Dunkley,  gas  engineer,  was  secured  in  July,  1918,  to  collaborate  with  an  engi- 
neer of  the  Bureau  of  Mines  on  a  joint  program  in  cooperation  with  the 
Illinois  Gas  Association.  The  problems  and  progress  of  the  work  are 
reviewed  in  a  later  paragraph. 

In  1917  Mr.  Currier  was  employed  to  make  a  study  of  the  ore  deposits 
of  Hardin  County,  after  which,  in  1918,  he  undertook  oil  investigations  in 
western   Illinois. 

Just  before  the  close  of  the  biennium,  it  became  apparent  that  the  Sur- 
vey would  be  given  a  special  appropriation  for  an  investigation  of  our  over- 
flowed lands  and  their  reclamation,  and  G.  W.  Pickels  of  the  Civil  Engineer- 
ing Department  of  the  University  was  secured  to  undertake  this  work. 

The  following  list  includes  the  full  personnel  of  the  staff  for  the  bien- 
nium, with  the  exception  of  a  few  part-time  assistants  employed  for  short 
periods. 

GENERAL  OFFICE  SECTION 

F.  W.  DeWolf,  Chief* 

Carrie  H.  Thory,  Chief  Clerk* 

Henry  M.  DuBois,  Asst.  Geologist 

Nellie  Barrett,  Editor* 

Henrietta  Christensen,  Geologic  Clerk* 

Faith  Neighbour,  Stenographer* 

Emma  J.  Nyberg,  Stenographer* 

W.  B.  Walraven,  Draftsman   (In  service)* 

Marian  Ream,  Draftsman 

A.  L.  Rehnquist,  Draftsman 

GEOLOGIC  AND  MINING  INVESTIGATIONS  SECTION 

F.  W.  DeWolf,  Geologist* 

R.  D.  Salisbury,  Consulting  Geologist 
U.  S.  Grant,  Consulting  Geologist 
Harlan  H.  Barrows,  Consulting  Geologist 
S.  W.  Parr,  Consulting  Chemist 
Edward  Bartow,  Consulting  Chemist 
Stuart  Weller,  Geologist 
T.  E.  Savage,  Geologist 

G.  H.  Cady,  Geologist* 

Charles  Butts,  Geologist  (U.  S.  G.  S.) 

Merle  L.  Nebel,  Geologist* 

L.  A.  Mylius,  Geologist* 

H.  N.  Coryell,  Geologist* 

J.  L.  Rich,  Geologist 

J.  H.  Bretz,  Geologist 

L.  W.  Currier,  Geologist 

J.  E.  Pogue,  Geologist 

C.  R.  Schroyer,  Geologist* 

Frank  Krey,  Geologist* 


'Employed  on  full-time  basis 


14  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

GEOLOGIC  AND  MINING  INVESTIGATIONS   SECTION— (Concluded) 
M.  M.  Leighton,  Geologist 
H.  E.  Culver,  Geologist* 

C.  W.  Parmelee,  Ceramic  Engineer 
W.  A.  Dunkley,  Gas  Engineer* 

G.  W.  Pickels,  Drainage  Engineer 
H.  F.  Crooks,  Assistant  Geologist 
S.  H.  Williston,  Assistant  Geologist 
Marvin  Weller,  Assistant  Geologist 
J.  E.  Lamar,  Assistant  Geologist 

D.  J.  Fisher,  Assistant  Geologist 
Carl  v.  Schlicten,  Assistant  Geologist 

M.  H.  Hunt,  Assistant  Ceramic  Engineer 

D.  D.  Sparks,  Levelman 
R.  Pinheiro,  Levelman 
Morris  Winokur,  Levelman 

G.  F.  Moulton,  Field  Assistant 
A.  W.  Thurston,  Field  Assistant 
R.  C.  Miessler,  Field  Assistant 
K.  W.  Hsu,  Field  Assistant 

E.  L.  Wingert,  Field  Assistant 
Ben  Herzberg,  Field  Assistant 

Other  short-time  assistants  in  field  and  office 


♦Employed  on  full-time  basis. 

Cooperation 
Mention  has  already  been  made  of  the  formal  cooperation  with  the  U.  S. 
Geological  Survey  in  the  work  of  making  a  topographic  map  of  the  State. 
There  has  also  been  the  usual  cooperation  in  collection  of  mineral  statistics. 
Mention  has  been  made  of  the  cooperation  with  the  Mining  Department  of 
the  University  of  Illinois  and  with  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  in  work 
relating  to  the  study  of  coal  resources  and  the  better  development  of  min- 
ing practices  and  of  coal  utilization.  This  work  has  also  included  the  effort 
to  demonstrate  methods  of  shutting  off  water  from  oil  wells.  Besides  these 
instances  of  formal  cooperation,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  mention  in  addition  the 
availability  of  the  ceramics  and  chemical  laboratories  of  the  University, 
together  with  consulting  members  of  the  faculty  who  direct  certain  routine 
analytical  and  testing  work  on  behalf  of  the  Geological  Survey.  All  of  these 
various  lines  of  cooperation  are  highly  appreciated. 

GEOLOGICAL  AND  MINING  INVESTIGATIONS  SECTIONS 
General  Stratigraphy  and  Structure 
Stratigraphical  studies  of  the  Mississippian  formations  were  continued 
by  Professor  Weller  in  the  Golconda  and  Vienna  quadrangles  in  southern 
Illinois.  General  stratigraphy  and  structure  of  the  formations  was  investi- 
gated in  five  other  quadrangles,  comprising  a  total  area  of  about  one  thousand 
square  miles.  Additional  stratigraphic  and  structural  data  of  significance  in 
relation  to  our  oil  fields  were  collected  in  western  Illinois  and  in  the  northern 
portion  of  the  eastern  oil  fields. 


administrative  report  15 

Coal 

The  Survey  carried  on  a  considerable  amount  of  general  investigation 
of  the  coal  fields,  incidental  to  the  mapping  of  the  State,  but  for  the  most 
part  special  coal  studies  were  undertaken  under  the  Illinois  Mining  Investiga- 
tions Cooperative  Agreement.  This  work  engages  the  joint  efforts  of 
geologists,  mining  engineers,  and  chemists  on  a  program  which  is  adopted 
for  each  year. 

In  the  first  year  of  the  biennium  an  investigation  of  the  coal  resources, 
along  with  other  mineral  products,  was  carried  on  for  several  unit  areas  in 
various  parts  of  the  State.  The  Coulterville  quadrangle,  lying  in  Randolph 
and  Perry  counties  was  surveyed  by  Mr.  Cady;  the  Ottawa  and  Marseilles 
quadrangles,  lying  in  La  Salle  and  Grundy  counties,  were  in  large  part  fin- 
ished by  Mr.  Cady  and  Mr.  Crooks ;  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  comprising 
parts  of  Rock  Island  and  Mercer  counties,  by  Mr.  Savage ;  the  LaHarpe 
and  Good  Hope  quadrangles,  lying  in  Henderson,  Hancock,  McDonough,  and 
Warren  counties,  by  Mr.  Nebel  and  assistants ;  the  Campbell  Hill  quad- 
rangle, lying  in  Jackson,  Randolph,  and  Perry  counties,  by  Marvin  Weller. 
Of  these  combined  areas  about  one  thousand  square  miles  lie  within  the 
Illinois  coal  fields. 

During  the  second  year  the  coal  work  of  the  Survey  related  largely  to 
difficulties  brought  about  by  the  war ;  particularly  to  the  shortage  of  gas 
coal  and  coke  for  use  at  Illinois  gas  plants.  Previously,  about  two  million 
tons  of  low-sulphur  coal  had  been  shipped  annually  to  Illinois  and  the  states 
adjoining  on  the  west  from  mines  in  the  eastern  states,  but  rail  congestion, 
the  zoning  of  coal,  and  other  difficulties  interfered  to  an  alarming  extent 
with  the  supply.  Since  Illinois  coal  had  been  used  in  a  small  way  at  a  few 
gas-making  plants,  it  seemed  wise  to  consider  its  larger  use  in  an  effort  to 
relieve  the  shortage.  Incidentally  it  was  thought  possible  and  desirable  to 
develop  a  permanent  market  for  Illinois  coals  in  gas  manufacture.  Hence 
plans  were  made  and  a  cooperative  organization  perfected  for  immediate 
experiment  on  a  commercial  scale.  The  Governor  appointed  a  special  techni- 
cal committee  on  this  work,  including  representatives  of  the  Survey,  the 
Engineering  Experiment  Station  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Mines,  and  the  Illinois  Gas  Association.  Under  this  committee, 
gas  engineers  and  chemists  carried  on  practical  and  highly  successful  experi- 
ments, and  the  results  were  published  and  distributed  through  a  representa- 
tive of  the  U.  S.  Fuel  Administration.  It  was  found  possible  to  make 
satisfactory  gas  from  certain  grades  of  Illinois  coal  and  largely  to  overcome 
such  difficulties  as  were  due  to  the  change  from  eastern  coal.  On  the  whole, 
certain  economies  were  found  to  result  from  this  practice,  and  it  is  there- 
fore presumed  that  many  plants  will  continue  to  use  Illinois  coal  perma- 
nently. Mr.  Dunkley  was  engaged  as  fuel  engineer  on  behalf  of  the  Survey, 
and  carried  much  of  the  responsibility. 


16  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

The  publications  of  this  series  of  studies  are  listed  on  a  later  page  in 
this  report.  In  this  connection  should  be  mentioned  the  report  of  Mr.  Cady, 
pointing  out  the  location  of  twenty-two  mines  in  Franklin,  Williamson, 
Perry,  and  Jackson  counties  which  can  produce  low-sulphur  coal  acceptable 
to  the  gas  industry. 

Another  geological  work  of  the  Mining  Investigations  included  the  com- 
pletion of  a  report  by  Mr.  Cady  on  the  coal  resources  of  Saline  and  Gallatin 
counties,  and  the  conclusion  of  field  work  by  Mr.  Cady  on  coal  resources 
of  the   Springfield-Peoria  region. 

Pyrite 
Another  investigation  closely  related  to  coal  studies  included  a  search 
for  pyrite,  as  a  by-product  of  coal  production.  Because  of  war  conditions 
the  pyrite  ordinarily  imported  from  Spain  was  cut  off.  It  became  increas- 
ingly necessary  that  a  larger  supply  should  be  produced  in  the  United  States 
for  use  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid,  which,  in  turn,  is  necessary 
for  the  manufacture  of  explosives.  Consequently,  under  stimulation  from 
Government  agencies,  an  inventory  was  made  of  pyrite,  or  "sulphur  balls," 
in  Illinois  coal  mines.  This  work  was  encouraging  from  the  start  because 
there  had  been  small  commercial  production  for  many  years  from  mines  in 
the  vicinity  of  Danville.  Mr.  Pogue  and  later  Mr.  Cady  made  the  investiga- 
tion and  prepared  a  brief  publication  which  is  listed  with  others  on  a  fol- 
lowing page.  In  general  a  great  quantity  of  pyrite  was  found  to  be  available 
and  commercially  recoverable,  but  about  the  time  this  investigation  was 
completed  it  became  clear  that  the  production  of  natural  brimstone  from 
Louisiana  and  Texas  would  probably  supplant  pyrite  in  acid  manufacture. 

Oil  and  Gas 

The  oil  investigations  of  1917-1918,  comprising  a  large  program,  have 
previously  been  published  as  Bulletin  40.  This  volume  contains  a  summary 
of  the  production  statistics,  notes  on  various  scattered  localities,  and  also 
geological  reports  with  recommendations  for  new  drilling  in  a  number  of 
counties.  In  western  Illinois  a  survey  of  Brown  County  was  made  in  the 
fall  of  1917  by  Messrs.  Rich  and  Nebel,  Mr.  Rich  having  the  northern  part 
of  the  county  and  Mr.  Nebel  the  southern  part.  In  addition,  Mr.  Nebel 
made  a  special  investigation  of  the  oil  structure  of  the  LaHarpe  and  Good 
Hope  quadrangles,  comprising  parts  of  Henderson,  Warren,  Hancock,  and 
McDonough  counties.  During  the  following  summer  Mr.  Coryell  prepared 
a  report  on  Pike  County  and  southeastern  Adams  County. 

In  eastern  Illinois,  Mr.  Nebel,  assisted  by  Marvin  Weller,  and  later  Mr. 
Mylius,  assisted  by  Mr.  Collingwood  and  J.  H.  Griftner,  carried  on  a  survey 
of  the  old  oil  fields  in  Clark  and  northern  Crawford  counties.  This  proved 
to  be  of  increasing  importance  because  of  the  commercial  discovery  of  oil 
in  the  Trenton  in  the  vicinity  of  Westfield.     It  seems  likely  that  the  struc- 


ADMINISTRATIVE   REPORT  \J 

tural  mapping  of  the  region  will  be  of  great  value  in  the  future  development 
of  this  deep  production. 

In  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  the  Survey  undertook 
to  demonstrate  the  use  of  mud  fluid  and  cement  for  shutting  off  water  in 
oil  wells  of  the  Flat  Rock  pool  in  southeastern  Crawford  County.  This  work 
was  begun  by  Mr.  Nebel,  followed  by  Mr.  Mylius  on  behalf  of  the  Survey, 
and  by  Mr.  Tough,  followed  by  Mr.  Wagy  on  behalf  of  the  Bureau  of  Mines. 
Mr.  Williston  of  the  Survey  assisted  the  party. 

Detailed  reports  on  these  various  investigations,  together  with  full 
acknowledgments,  will  be  found  in  Bulletin  40.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  the  oil 
work  engaged  a  large  part  of  the  staff,  and  as  shown  by  Table  2,  a  sub- 
stantial portion  of  the  total  appropriation. 

Geological  Surveys  of  Quadrangles 
Only  a  little  quadrangle  survey  work  was  done  in  cooperation  with  the 
United  States  Geological  Survey,  and  this  was  in  the  Coulterville  quadrangle, 
by  Mr.  Cady.  This  area  comprises  200  square  miles  lying  in  Randolph, 
Jackson,  and  Perry  counties.  Independent  of  Federal  work,  the  State  car- 
ried on  surveys  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle  in  Rock  Island  and  Mercer 
counties,  began  work  on  the  Ottawa  and  Marseilles  quadrangles  in  La  Salle 
and  Grundy  counties,  completed  the  survey  of  the  LaHarpe  and  Good  Hope 
quadrangles  in  Henderson,  Hancock,  McDonough,  and  Warren  counties,  fin- 
ished the  Golconda  quadrangle  and  about  one-half  of  the  Vienna  quadrangle 
in  southern  Illinois,  and  published  a  special  report  on  the  Kings  quadrangle 
in  the  vicinity  of  Camp  Grant.  The  Campbell  Hill  survey  in  southwestern 
Illinois  was  finished  by  Marvin  Weller.  Mr.  Butts  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey  finished  work  on  the  Shawneetown  and  Equality  quadrangles  in 
southern  Illinois,  under  an  arrangement  by  which  the  Federal  Government 
paid  his  salary  and  the  State  shared  the  expenses. 

Clay 
During  normal  times  a  considerable  tonnage  of  high-grade  clay  for  the 
manufacture  of  graphite  crucibles,  glass  pots,  retorts,  etc.,  is  imported  from 
England  and  from  Germany,  but  on  account  of  the  war  situation  these 
imports  were  essentially  cut  off.  Under  encouragement  from  Federal 
agencies,  the  State  Survey  began  a  search  for  high-grade  clays  which  might 
be  used  in  the  emergency.  Mr.  C.  R.  Schroyer  was  appointed  as  field  geolo- 
gist and  C.  W.  Parmelee  and  E.  W.  Washburn,  head  of  the  Ceramics  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Illinois,  were  appointed  consulting  ceramists.  A 
program  of  field  work  and  laboratory  tests  was-  arranged  and  carried  to 
a  successful  conclusion,  more  than  one  hundred  samples  of  high-grade  clays 
having  been  collected.  Deposits  in  Union  County  were  found  to  be  suitable 
for  use  in  making  glass  pots,  linings  for  crucibles  and  retorts,  and  for 
enameled  iron.     Other  studies  of  ganister  found  in  Union  and  Alexander 


18  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

counties  were  undertaken  because  this  material  promised  to  have  value  for 
the  manufacture  of  silica  brick  which  is  used  for  coke-oven  linings  and  simi- 
lar purposes.  Certain  tests  of  this  material  were  made  by  the  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Standards  and  others  are  to  be  made  in  the  University  laboratories  under 
the  direction  of  Mr.  Parmelee. 

Investigation  of  Highway  Materials 
Late  in  the  biennium  it  became  desirable  to  undertake  a  search  for  sites 
for  additional  limestone  quarries  and  gravel  pits  which  might  be  opened  up 
to  furnish  material  for  the  road  program  which  the  State  is  undertaking. 
Conferences  were  held  with  representatives  of  the  State  Highway  Division 
and  the  Director  of  the  Department  of  Public  Works,  looking  to  a  system- 
atic examination  of  the  possibilities  in  all  parts  of  the  State  and  the  collec- 
tion of  samples  which  would  be  tested  by  the  Highway  Division  at  Spring- 
field. Mr.  C.  R.  Schroyer  and  assistants  began  the  work  of  preparing  loose- 
leaf  forms  for  the  recording  of  limestone  observations  and  plans  were  made 
to  obtain  a  specialist  on  glacial  geology  to  undertake  study  of  gravel  deposits. 
It  was  assumed  that  a  special  appropriation  for  the  execution  of  this  work 
might  become  available  July  1,  and  all  plans  were  made  to  push  the  invest- 
igation rapidly.  Since  the  State  program  calls  for  approximately  1,000 
miles  of  road  per  year  for  the  five-year  period  immediately  following  the 
war,  and  since  much  of  the  stone  and  gravel  in  our  State  is  shipped  in  from 
Wisconsin  and  Indiana,  it  seems  important  to  investigate  the  possibilities  of 
producing  satisfactory  Illinois  materials  so  as  to  practice  all  possible  economy. 
Furthermore,  the  production  of  additional  limestone  would  yield  an  impor- 
tant quantity  of  lime-rock  dust  for  agricultural  use. 

Mineral  Statistics 
The  Survey  has  continued  to  cooperate  with  the  U.  S.  Geological  Sur- 
vey in  the  collection  of  mineral  statistics  and  the  results  for  the  years  under 
consideration  are  given  on  a  later  page  in  a  chapter  by  Miss  Barrett. 

Bureau  of  Information 
The  Survey  maintains  a  bureau  of  information  for  the  convenience  of 
inquirers  about  mineral  resources  of  Illinois.  Requests  are  received  in 
great  numbers,  both  from  inside  and  outside  the  State.  When  possible,  a 
bulletin  containing  the  desired  information  is  mailed.  Frequently,  however, 
it  is  necessary  to  make  special  study  and  to  reply  by  letter  at  some  length. 
Many  requests  for  the  identification  of  minerals  are  received  and  answered 
promptly ;  others  for  chemical  analysis  of  specimens  are,  for  the  most  part, 
necessarily  refused.  It  has  been  found  that  the  collection  of  a  representa- 
tive sample  of  a  material  and  the  investigation  of  its  favorable  occurrence 
for  development  are  quite  as  essential  and  require  expert  advice,  just  as  does 
chemical  analysis.     As  a  rule,  therefore,  unless  a  representative  of  the  Sur- 


ADMINISTRATIVE    REPORT  19 

vey  investigates  and  samples  a  mineral  deposit,  an  analysis  at  public  expense 
is  not  justified,  particularly  because  otherwise  Survey  funds  would  be  seri- 
ously depleted  by  work  which  frequently  is  of  no  permanent  value.  Pre- 
liminary examinations  and  opinions  as  to  probable  value  of  minerals  are 
always  cheerfully  given. 

Topographic  Section 

The  accompanying  table  indicates  the  progress  of  topographic  mapping 
for  each  of  the  two  years  comprising  the  biennium. 

It  seemed  desirable  to  suspend  topographic  surveys  in  Illinois  during 
the  year  beginning  July,  1917,  partly  because  they  had  little  bearing  on  the 
war  necessities  of  the  State,  and  because  Federal  employes  were  largely 
engaged  in  active  war  service  abroad  or  at  home,  and  were  not  available. 
However,  in  connection  with  the  training  at  Camp  Grant,  the  War  Depart- 
ment requested  the  completion  of  four  quadrangles  in  that  vicinity  compris- 
ing about  850  miles,  and  these  quadrangles,  known  as  the  Rockford,  Kings, 
Belvidere,  and  Kirkland,  were  surveyed  in  cooperation,  although  most  of 
the  cost  was  borne  by  Federal  agencies. 

In  connection  with  Survey  investigations  of  deposits  of  fire  clay  and 
ganister  in  Union  and  Alexander  counties,  it  became  desirable  as  a  war-time 
undertaking  to  have  a  topographic  map  of  the  Jonesboro  quadrangle,  and 
to  determine  accurately  the  extent  and  mode  of  occurrence  of  these  deposits. 
Consequently  a  contract  was  entered  into  with  the  Edmund  T.  Perkins 
Engineering  Company,  which  company  finished  successfully  the  topographic 
map  of  this  area.  Later,  after  the  close  of  the  war,  cooperation  with  the 
Federal  Government  was  resumed  on  a  small  scale,  and  the  survey  of  the 
Vermont  quadrangle,  in  Schuyler,  Fulton,  and  McDonough  counties,  was 
completed,  and  about  one-half  of  the  work  for  the  Dongola  quadrangle  was 
finished.  This  latter  sheet  occupies  parts  of  Union,  Pulaski,  and  Johnson 
counties.  In  preparation  for  the  following  year,  levels  and  control  lines 
were  run  for  the  Grays  Lake,  Barrington,  Elgin,  McHenry,  and  Highwood 
quadrangles,  lying  partly  in  McHenry,  Lake,  Kane,  and  Cook  counties. 

An  explanation  of  the  progress  of  the  work  may  best  be  given  in  the 
words  of  the  Director  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  from  whose  reports 
for  the  two  years  under  consideration  the  following  summaries  are  quoted : 
"The  Governor  of  Illinois  alloted  $7,000  for  the  continuation  of  cooperative 
topographic  surveys,  and  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  allotted  an  equal 
amount,  the  amount  necessary  to  complete  the  surveys  being  paid  from  Federal  funds. 
The  survey  of  the  Kings  and  Kirkland  quadrangles,  in  Ogle,  Winnebago,  Dekalb,  and 
Boone  counties  was  completed  by  J.  G.  Staack,  R.  H.  Reineck,  S.  T.  Penick,  T.  F. 
Slaughter,  J.  A.  Duck,  C.  C.  Gardner,  A.  L.  Opdycke,  C.  C.  Holder,  and  J.  B.  Leavitt, 
the  total  area  mapped  being  442  square  miles,  for  publication  on  the  scale  of  1  :62,500, 
with  a  contour  interval  of  20  feet.  For  the  control  of  these  quadrangles  Fred  Crisp 
ran  132  miles  of  primary  traverse  and  set  12  permanent  marks;  S.  L.  Parker.  C.  C. 
Holder,  and  F.  A.  Danforth  ran  80  miles  of  primary  levels,  and  established  22  per- 


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ADMINISTRATIVE    REPORT  21 

manent  bench  marks  in  the  Kings  quadrangle ;  and  C.  C.  Gardner  and  H.  S.  Senseney 
ran  24  miles  of  primary  levels  and  established  five  permanent  marks  in  the  Kirkland 
quadrangle. 

"The  survey  of  the  Belvidere  and  Rockford  quadrangles,  mainly  in  Boone  and 
Winnebago  counties,  was  completed,  the  total  area  mapped  being  416  square  miles,  for 
publication  on  a  scale  of  1 :62,500,  with  a  contour  interval  of  20  feet.  Of  this  area 
nine  square  miles  is  in  Wisconsin.  For  the  control  of  these  areas  Fred  Crisp  ran  109 
miles  of  primary  traverse  and  set  12  permanent  marks,  all  in  Illinois.  For  the  control 
of  the  Rockford  quadrangle  C.  H.  Semper  ran  82  miles  of  primary  levels  and  estab- 
lished 12  permanent  bench  marks,  and  for  the  control  of  the  Belvidere  quadrangle 
C.  H.  Semper,  H.  S.  Senseney,  and  S.  L.  Parker  ran  75  miles  of  primary  levels  and 
established  18  permanent  marks. 

"In  the  spring  of  1919  the  Department  of  Registration  and  Education  allotted 
$7,000  for  cooperative  topographic  mapping  in  Illinois,  with  the  understanding  that  an 
equal  amount  would  be  expended  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  when  Fed- 
eral funds  became  available.  The  survey  of  the  Dongola  and  Vermont  quadrangles, 
in  Fulton,  McDonough,  Schuyler,  Union,  Johnson,  and  Pulaski  counties,  was  begun 
by  C.  C.  Holder,  W.  K.  McKinley,  and  J.  A.  Duck,  the  total  area  surveyed  being  112 
square  miles,  for  publication  on  the  scale  of  1  :62,500,  with  a  contour  interval  of  20 
feet.  For  the  control  of  these  areas  S.  L.  Parker  and  Crawford  Dickey  ran  112  miles 
of  primary  levels  and  established  33  permanent  bench  marks,  and  F.  J.  McMaugh  ran 
124  miles  of  primary  traverse  and  set  nine  bench  marks." 

More  rapid  progress  of  topographic  mapping  throughout  the  country 
was  emphatically  recommended  by  a  conference  of  engineering  societies  held 
at  Chicago.  This  conference  consisted  of  one  delegate  from  each  of  approxi- 
mately seventy-five  engineering  societies  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
whose  total  membership  is  200,000  engineers.  It  seemed  likely  that  the 
appropriation  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  would  be  increased  $150,000 
for  topographic  work  during  the  coming  year,  and  that  its  expenditures 
would  continue  to  be  made  chiefly  in  those  states  which  offered  like  amounts 
for  cooperative  work.  The  Board,  therefore,  joined  in  the  recommendation 
that  the  Illinois  Legislature  appropriate  $20,000  per  year  instead  of  $10,000 
per  year,  as  carried  formerly  in  the  budget.  This  seemed  fully  justified 
because  according  to  estimates  in  other  states,  the  entire  cost  of  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Illinois  map  would  be  spent  in  road  surveys  which  would  not 
otherwise  be  made  if  the  complete  topographic  map  existed.  Money 
expended  therefore  on  topographic  surveys  is  a  timely  investment  which 
prevents  duplicate  surveys.  The  Chief  Highway  Engineer  was  invited  to 
indicate  parts  of  the  State  in  which  he  especially  desired  topographic  surveys 
so  that  these  might  be  available  to  serve  highway  as  well  as  geological  needs. 

PUBLICATIONS 
Reports  and  Maps 

On  account  of  the  war  situation  the  publication  of  reports  of  a  merely 
scientific  character  was  practically  suspended,  and  special  attention  was 
given  to  those  bulletins  and  maps  which  had  a  bearing  on  the  investigations 
of  mineral  resources  of  which  the  country  stood  greatly  in  need.     Near  the 


22  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

close  of  the  biennium,  when  the  war  was  over,  ordinary  publication  of 
reports  and  maps  was  resumed.  The  following  tabulation  will  indicate  the 
publications  of  the  biennial  period : 

Extract  from  Bulletin  38:    Optical  Fluorite  in  Southern  Illinois 

Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  20:  Carbonization  of  Illinois  Coals  in  Inclined 
Gas  Retorts 

Bulletin  39 :    The  Environment  of  Camp  Grant 

Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  21  :  The  Manufacture  of  Retort  Coal-gas  in 
the  Central  States  Using  Low-sulphur  Coal  from  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  West- 
ern Kentucky 

Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  22:  Water-gas  Manufacture  with  Central 
District  Bituminous  Coals  as  Generator  Fuel 

Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  23 :  Mines  Producing  Low-sulphur  Coal  in  the 
Central  District 

Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  24 :  Water-gas  Operating  Methods  with  Cen- 
tral District  Bituminous  Coals  as  Generator  Fuel,  A  Summary  of  Experi- 
ments on  a  Commercial  Scale 

Geological  Map  of  Illinois  (New  edition) 

Coal  Mine  Map  of  Illinois  (Revised),  accompanied  by  Directory  of  Operators 

At  the  close  of  the  biennium,  the  following  publications  were  in  press : 

Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  19 :    Coal  Resources  of  District  V 
Bulletin  37 :   Geology  and  Mineral  Resources  of  the  Hennepin  and  La  Salle  Quad- 
rangles 
Base  Map  of  Illinois  (Revised  edition) 
Topographic  Maps  of  McDonough  and  Randolph  counties 

The  distribution  of  these  reports  so  as  to  prevent  waste,  and  yet  make 
them  most  widely  available,  has  been  in  itself  a  considerable  task.  It  is 
thought  that  the  interests  of  all  concerned  would  be  best  met  if  500  copies 
of  each  report  were  reserved  for  sale  at  the  cost  of  printing,  the  receipts 
from  the  sales  being  turned  into  the  State  treasury.  This  makes  it  possible 
for  libraries  to  complete  their  sets  and  for  persons  having  real  need  for  any 
of  the  volumes  to  obtain  the  earlier  ones  at  small  cost.  The  remainder  of 
the  edition  is  distributed  by  the  Survey  and  the  Secretary  of  State  to  insti- 
tutions and  individuals  making  application  for  them,  or  is  exchanged  with 
other  Surveys  or  publishing  organizations. 

Any  of  the  published  reports  will  be  sent  upon  receipt  of  the  amount 
noted.  Money  orders,  drafts,  and  checks  should  be  made  payable  to  F.  W. 
DeWolf,  Chief. 

EXPENDITURES 

The  total  expenditures  July  1,  1917,  to  June  30,  1919,  are  shown  in  the 
following  table: 


ADMINISTRATIVE    REPORT 


23 


Table  2  — Total  expenditures  July  1,  1917  to  June  30,  1919 


General  appropriation— (50th  General  Assembly) 

Balance  on  hand  July  1,  1917 

Appropriation  July  1,  1917  (Biennium) 


Total  available 

Expenditures  July  1,  1917  to  June  30,  1919- 
Salary  and  expenses  of  administration. . . 
Clerical  help  and  general  office  expenses. 

Equipment  (field  and  office) 

Postage 

Oil  investigations 

Coal  investigations  (resources) 

Cooperative  geological  surveys 

General  stratigraphic  studies 

Clay  resources  investigations 

Geological  surveys  (quadrangles) 

Structural  geology 

Educational  series 

Statistics 

Glacial  geology 

Highway  materials  investigations 

Gas  investigations  (coal  and  water  gas) . 

Pyrite  recovery 

Miscellaneous 

Topographic  surveys 

Printing,  binding,  and  engraving 


Balance  available  July  1,  1919 

Appropriation  for  engraving  and  lithographing  maps  and  illustra- 
tions— (49th  General  Assembly) 

Balance  on  hand  July  1,  1917 

Expended  July  1,  1917  to  June  30,  1919 


Balance  available  July  1,  1919 


$1,609.28 
88,044.00 


12,058.26 

15,010.94 

4,282.22 

1,375.00 

11,690.45 

2,533.59 

488.28 

285.35 

4,016.63 

9,861.89 

219.00 

1,986.90 

598.08 

12.06 

1,202.93 

3,992.07 

1,279.10 

318.08 

12,813.31 

2,100.17 


$89,653.28 


86,124.31 


$  3,528.97 


$  2,398.65 
2,398.65 


An  expenditure  of  approximately  $11,000  during  the  biennium  was  made  from  funds 
of  the  Department  of  Registration  and  Education  for  publication  of  reports  and  maps  of 
the  Geological  Survey  Division.  . 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  ILLINOIS  IN  1917  AND  1918 

By  N.  O.   Barrett 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction 28 

Purpose   and   acknowledgments 28 

Importance  of  the  mineral  industries 28 

Scheme  of  report 43 

Periods  of  development  of  the  State  and  its  mineral  resources 43 

Reasons  for  delayed  development 44 

Transportation    problems 44 

Geologic  conditions 44 

Geographic  conditions  45 

The  effect  of  the  forests 45 

The  effect  of  the  prairies 47 

Mineral  resources  and  industries  of  Illinois 47 

Pre-1818  period   47 

Soils 48 

Waters    48 

Salt    - 49 

Lead,  zinc  and  silver 50 

Northern  Illinois  50 

Southern  Illinois  53 

Limestone   55 

Lime  58 

Coal    60 

Early  exploration    60 

Ante-railroad   period 60 

Railroad   period    63 

Condition  of  the  industry  in  1917  and  1918 71 

Production    74 

Distribution  and  consumption 75 

Prices    78 

Frontier  and  Civil  War  periods,  1818-1868 80 

Iron     30 

Coke 82 

Clay  products  °4 

Condition  of  the  industry  in  1917  and  1918     $9 

Cement     90 

Sand  and  gravel :)^ 

The  status  of  mineral  industries  in  1868 93 

The  industrial  period,  1868-1893 ij7 

Fluorspar     ^' 

Petroleum    and    natural    gas " 

The   modern   period,   1893-1918 101 

Sulphuric    acid     ^ 

Asphalt    102 

Mineral    pigments    1U 

Tripoli     103 

25 


26  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

OUTLINE— Continued 

PAGE 

Pyrite    103 

Peat    103 

Natural-gas  gasoline    104 

Industries  of  the  future 105 

Comparison  of  the  earlier  developed  mineral  resources  with  those  of  later 

years    105 

Illinois'  mineral  resources  and  the   War 106 

Bibliography    107 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIGURE  PAGE 

1.  Rank  of  Illinois  in  total  value  of  mineral  production,  1918 29 

2.  Map  showing  graphically  the  mineral  industries  of  each  county  for  1918, 

and  the  ranks  of  the  counties  in  the  industries 42 

3.  Map  of  Illinois  showing  the  original  wooded  areas,  the   distribution  of 

population  in  1820,  and  the  location  of  early  mineral  production 46 

4.  Value  of  limestone  production  of  Illinois  according  to  uses,  1885-1918 56 

5.  Increase  in  main  track  railroad  mileage  and  quantity  of  coal  produced  in 

Illinois,    1833-1918    65 

6.  Old  scoop,  rake,  and  hammer  from  a  primitive  Illinois  coal  mine 69 

7.  A  modern  machine  for  mining  coal 69 

8.  A  surface  plant  of  the  early  railroad  period 70 

9.  A  modern  fireproof  steel  tipple 70 

10.  Percentage  of  full-time  operation  of  coal  mines  and  of  losses  of  running 

time,  by  causes,  and  by  weeks,  in  1918:  A,  in  Illinois;  B,  in  the  United 

States  76 

11.  Relative  spot  prices   of  all  bituminous   coal  produced,  by  months,    1913- 

1918  :  A,  in  Illinois  ;  B,  in  the  United  States 78 

12.  Value  of  natural  and  Portland  cement  in  Illinois,  1888-1918 92 

TABLES 

TABLE  PAGE 

3.  Comparison  of  values  of  total  mineral  production  in  Illinois  with  those  of 

total  agricultural  products,  1905-1918 28 

4.  Output  and  value  of  mineral  products  in  Illinois,   1883-1918 30 

5.  Products  and  total  mineral  values,  by  counties,  1917 38 

6.  Products  and  total  mineral  values,  by  counties,  1918 40 

7.  Lead  production  of  the  Fever  River  mines,  1823-1829 52 

8.  Lead  production  of  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  region,  1821  to  1920,  by 

decades    52 

9.  Production  and   value  of   lead,   zinc,   and   silver  in   Illinois,   by   districts, 

1909-1918   54 

10.  Tenor  of  lead  and  zinc  ore  and  concentrates  produced  in   Illinois,   1917 

and   1918    55 

11.  Relative  importance  of  the  limestone  production  districts,  1917  and   1918....  57 

12.  Average  price  per  short  ton  of  crushed  stone  produced  in  Illinois,  and 

in  the  United  States,  1905-1918 58 

13.  Lime  burned  in  Illinois,  1904-1918. . 59 

14.  Production  of  coal  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  in  short  tons,  1905-1918 66 

15.  Coal  produced  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1917 


72 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  27 

TABLES— Concluded 

TABLE  PAGE 

16.  Coal  produced  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1918 73 

17.  Production  of  coal  in  Illinois  by  groups  of  principal  counties,  1916-1918 75 

18.  Statistics  of  distribution  and  consumption  of  coal  for  Illinois  in  1917  and 

1918 77 

19.  Average  price  per  short  ton  of  Illinois  coal  at  the  mines,  1905-1918 80 

20.  Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pig  iron  in  Illinois,  1907-1918 81 

21.  Statistics  of  the  manufacture  of  coke  in  Illinois,  1880-1918 83 

22.  Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  fire  clay  and  other  clays  mined  and 

marketed  in  Illinois,  1902-1918 85 

23.  Clay  products  in  Illinois,  1909-1918 ' 86 

24.  Production  of  brick  and  drain  tile  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1917 87 

25.  Production  of  brick  and  drain  tile  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1918 ....  88 

26.  Portland  cement  industry  in  Illinois,  1900-1918 91 

27.  Production  in    short  tons  and  value  of   sand   and  gravel   in   Illinois,  by 

counties,  1917  and  1918 94 

28.  Production  in  short  tons  and  values  of  different  kinds  of  sand  and  gravel 

in  Illinois,  1904-1918 96 

29.  Glass  sand  produced  in  Illinois,  1903-1918 97 

30.  Domestic  fluorspar  sold  in  the  United  States,  1914-1918,  including  statis- 

tics of  production  for  Illinois 99 

31.  Marketed  production  of  petroleum  in  Illinois,   1889-1918 100 

32.  Record  of  the  natural  gas  industry  in  Illinois,  1906-1918 101 

33.  Tripoli   produced  and   sold  in  the   United    States,   including   the   Illinois 

statistics,  1917  and  1918 103 

34.  Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pyrite  mined  in  Illinois,  1909-1918 104 

35.  Production  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  in  Illinois,  1913-1918 105 


28  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

INTRODUCTION 
Purpose  and  Acknowledgments 

In  addition  to  the  material  customarily  comprising  the  statistical  report 
for  the  yearbook,  this  report  purposes  to  include  brief  notes  covering  the 
beginnings  and  the  history  of  the  development  of  each  mineral  industry  of 
Illinois.  The  occasion  which  prompts  such  an  historical  summary  of  the 
growth  of  the  State's  mineral  industries  is  the  Illinois  centennial;  the  close 
of  the  first  hundred  years  of  statehood  in  1918  seems  a  logical  time  at 
which  to  review  the  progress  that  has  been  made. 

Most  of  the  statistics  have  been  taken  from  compilations  made  and  in 
many  cases  published  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  in  its  annual 
reports  on  "Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States,"  but  other  sources, 
such  as  the  Census  publications  and  various  State  reports  were  also  consulted. 

Of  recent  years,  the  mineral  statistics  for  Illinois  have  been  collected 
by  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  and  the  Illinois  State  Geological  Survey  in 
cooperation,  rather  than  by  the  Federal  Survey  alone.  This  custom  com- 
mends itself  to  continuance,  partly  because  it  gives  the  State  Survey  earlier 
and  easier  access  to  the  detailed  statistics  than  would  otherwise  be  possible. 

Importance  of  the  Mineral  Industries 
An  idea  of  the  relative  importance  of   the   mineral   industries   of   the 
State  as  compared  with  agriculture  may  be  gained  from  Table  3.     In  spite 
of  the  considerable  variation  from  year  to  year  in  the  percentage  ratios  of 

Table  3 .—Comparison  of  values  of  total  mineral  production  in  Illinois  with  those  of 
total  agricultural  products,  1905-1918 


Year 

Mineral 
production 

Agricultural 
production 

Ratio  of  values  of 
mineral  to  agricul- 
tural production 

1905 

1906 

$  68,025,560 

72,723,572 

93,539,464 

92,765,688 

98,840,729 

98,891,759 

106,275,115 

123,068,867 

131,825,221 

117,145,108 

114,704,587 

146,780,236 

238,186,690 

271,244,365 

$272,794,107 
253,409,404 
280,666,020 
276,614,637 
322,144,944 
297,976,709 
311,525,706 
285,249,557 
288,613,140 
289,781,140 
486,561,355 
496,178,000 
842,042,000 
879,679,000 

Per  cent 
24.9 

28.7 

1907 

33.3 

1908 

33.5 

1909 

30.7 

1910.  . 

32.2 

1911. . 

34.1 

1912. . 

43.2 

1913. . 

45.9 

1914. . 

40.4 

1915.  . 

23.5 

1916.  . 

29.6 

1917 

28.3 

1918. . 

30.8 

MINERAL  RESOURCES 


29 


the  values  of  mineral  and  agricultural  production,  it  is  apparent  that  com- 
monly mineral  production  has  roughly  one-third  the  value  of  crops  produced. 
Evidence  of  the  magnitude  of  Illinois'  mineral  wealth  is  to  be  found  in 
the  fact  that  in  1918  the  State  ranked  sixth  in  the  United  States  in  petroleum 
production;  fifth  in  limestone;  fourth  in  clay  products;  third  in  brick 
and  tile,  in  coal,  and  in  sand  and  gravel ;  and  leader  in  the  fluorspar,  glass 
sand,  and  tripoli  industries.  And  further  evidence  is  had  in  the  statement 
that  in  total  value  of  mineral  production  it  was  surpassed  in  1917  by  only 
two,  and  in  1918  by  only  three  other  states  (fig.  1). 


200 


400 


800 


MILLIONS  OF  DOLLARS 


Fig.  1.     Rank  of  Illinois  in  total  value  of  mineral  production,  1918. 


Equally  impressive  is  the  diversity  of  mineral  resources  for  the  clos- 
ing year  of  the  State's  first  century,  as  shown  by  the  headings  in  Table  4. 
Although  statistics  for  the  year  1818  are  not  available,  it  is  certain  that  a 
similar  list  for  that  year  could  have  been  not  even  a  fourth  as  long.  A  few 
barge  loads  of  coal,  a  goodly  quantity  of  salt,  several  thousand  tons  of  lead, 
probably  a  small  cordage  of  stone,  and  perhaps  a  still  smaller  amount  of 
lime — the  combined  value  and  tonnage  of  the  1818  products  could  represent 
only  a  negligible  fraction  of  present-day  values  and  quantities. 


30 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Table  4. — Output  and  value  of  mineral 


COAL 

Mines 

Mines  of  Specified  Tonnage 

Tonnage 

Year 

Less 

1,000 

50,000 

100.000 

More 

Total 

Ship- 

than 

Tons  to 

Tons  to 

Tons  to 

than 

Total 

No. 

ping 

Local 

1,000 

50,000 

100,000 

200,000 

200.000 

Tons 

Tons 

Tons 

Tons 

Tons 

' 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 

10 

Per  cent 

Per  cent 

Short  tons 

1883 

1884 

1885 

639 

209 

366 

39 

10 

15 

12,123,456 

741 

262 

421 

38 

16 

4 

12,208,075 

778 

286 

433 

40 

13 

6 

11,834,459 

1886 

787 

316 

415 

44 

11 

3 

11,175,241 

1887 

801 

320 

419 

42 

18 

2 

12,423,066 

1888  

822 

327 

423 

47 

20 

5 

14,328,181 

1889 

1890 

854 

321 

455 

55 

20 

3 

12,104,272 

936 

398 

456 

54 

24 

4 

15,292,420 

1891 

918 

402 

421 

52 

37 

6 

15,660,698 

1892 

839 

a 

a 

332 

390 

65 

46 

6 

17,862,276 

1893 

788 

39 

61 

282 

372 

75 

47 

12 

19,949,564 

1894 

836 

38 

62 

312 

413 

61 

44 

6 

17,113,576 

1895 

855 

37 

63 

319 

421 

61 

45 

9 

17,735,864 

1896 

862 

37 

63 

330 

408 

63 

45 

16 

19,786,626 

1897 

853 

36 

64 

346 

370 

79 

41 

17 

20,072,758 

1898 

881 

37 

63 

351 

395 

86 

42 

7 

18,599,299 

1899 

889 

36 

64 

346 

384 

77 

57 

25 

24,439,019 

1900 

920 

35 

65 

340 

418 

70 

65 

27 

25,767,981 

1901 

915 

36 

64 

313 

432 

79 

58 

33 

27,331,552 

1902 

915 

36 

64 

314 

415 

76 

72 

38 

32,939,373 

1903 

933 

38 

62 

313 

413 

75 

87 

45 

36,957,104 

1904 

932 

41 

59 

301 

415 

72 

98 

46 

36,475,060 

1905 

990 

40 

60 

321 

446 

83 

88 

52 

38,434,363 

1906 

1,018 

41 

59 

336 

449 

89 

97 

47 

41,480,104 

1907 

933 

44 

56 

260 

407 

91 

95 

80 

51,317,416 

1908 

922 

44 

56 

248 

402 

98 

92 

82 

47,659,690 

1909 

886 

43 

57 

270 

373 

66 

90 

87 

50,904,990 

1910 

881 

44 

56 

261 

364 

87 

94 

75 

45,900,246 

1911 

845 

46 

54 

235 

351 

82 

101 

76 

53,679,118 

1912 

879 

43 

57 

266 

347 

70 

91 

105 

59,885,226 

1913 

840 

44 

56 

239 

339 

66 

82 

114 

61,618,744 

1914 

796 

43 

57 

236 

298 

64 

95 

103 

57,589,197 

1915 

779 

36 

64 

268 

286 

56 

65 

104 

58,829,576 

1916 

803 

35 

65 

304 

280 

48 

60 

111 

66.195,336 

1917 

810 

40 

60 

226 

283 

52 

70 

139 

86,199,387 

1918 

967 

38 

62 

334 

330 

59 

60 

166 

80.201,105 

a  Statistics  not  available  for  this  and  earlier  years. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


31 


products  in  Illinois,  1883  to  1918 


COAL— Continued 

Tonnage 

Total  Value 

Men 

Employed 

Machine 
Mining 

Year 

Ship- 
ping 

Mines 

Local 

Mines 

Total  Number 

Ship- 
ping 

Mines 

Local 
Mines 

Ton- 
nage 
per 
Man 

No. 

of 

Mines 

Ton- 
nage 
by 
Ma- 
chines 

11 

12 

13 

14 

15 

16 

17 

18 

19 

20 

Per  cent 

Per  cent 

a 
$13,164,976 
11,456,493 
10,263,543 
11,152,596 
13,309,030 
12,496,805 
12,883,548 
13,069,090 
15,158,430 
17,827,595 
15,282,111 
14,239,157 
15,809,736 
14  472,529 
14,567,598 
20,744,553 

23,939 
25,575 
25,946 
25,846 
26,804 
29,410 
30,076 
28,574 
32,951 
33,632 
35,390 
38,477 
38,630 
37,057 
33,788 
35,026 
36,991 

Per  cent 

Per  cent 

506 
438 
456 
432 
463 
481 
466 
535 
475 
531 
564 
445 
459 
534 
594 
531 
634 

Per  cent 

1883 

1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

a 

a 
3 
6 

7 
4 
3 
5 
4 

a 

81 
81 
81 
76 
93 
92 
93 

a 

19 

19 

19 

24 

7 

8 

7 

1892 

97 

1893 

94 

1894 

93 

...           1895 

96 

1896 

97 

1897 

95 

1898 

96 

a 

a 

1899 

96 

4 

26,927  185 

39,384 

92 

8 

639 

67 

22 

1900 

95 

4 

28,163,937 

44,143 

93 

7 

603 

63 

22 

1901 

96 

4 

33,945,910 

46,005 

93 

7 

653 

64 

22 

1902 

96 

4 

43,196,809 

49,814 

94 

6 

702 

68 

22 

1903 

96 

4 

39,941,993 

54,774 

94 

6 

677 

67 

19 

1904 

97 

3 

40,577,592 

59,230 

94 

6 

628 

76 

22 

1905 

97 

3 

44,763,062 

62,283 

94 

6 

615 

85 

25 

1906 

97 

3 

54,687,382 

66,714 

95 

5 

717 

101 

33 

1907 

97 

3 

49,978,247 

70,841 

95 

5 

696 

105 

31 

1908 

98 

2 

53,522,014 

72,733 

96 

4 

676 

107 

33 

1909 

97 

3 

52,405,897 

74,634 

96 

4 

653 

114 

38 

1910 

97 

3 

59,519,478 

77,410 

96 

4 

648 

126 

40 

1911 

98 

2 

70,294,338 

79,411 

96 

4 

724 

139 

44 

1912 

98 

2 

70,313,605 

79,497 

97 

3 

778 

140 

49 

1913 

98 

2 

64,693,529 

80,035 

97 

3 

758 

141 

52 

1914 

98 

2 

64,622,471 

75,607 

96 

4 

762 

131 

59 

1915 

98 

2 

82,457,954 

75,919 

96 

4 

839 

139 

62 

1916 

98 

2 

162,281,822 

80,893 

96 

4 

976 

151 

60 

1917 

98 

2 

206,860,291 

91,372 

96 

4 

985 

174 

53 

1918 

32 


YEAR  BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1911 


Table  4. — Output  and  value  of  mineral 


Coke 

Oil  and  Gas 

Year 

Petroleum 

Natural  Gas 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Value 

21 

22 

23 

24 

25 

26 

1883 

Short  Tons 
13,400 
13,095 
10,350 
8,103 
9,108 
7,410 
11,583 
5,000 
5,200 
3,170 
2,200 
2,200 
2,250 
2,600 
1,549 
2,325 
2,370 
b 
b 
b 
b 
4,439 
clO,307 
268,693 
372,697 
362,182 
1,276,956 
1,514,504 
1,610,212 
1,764,944 
dl,859,553 
1,425,168 
1,686,998 
2,320,400 
1,030,706 
2,285,610 

$         28,200 
25,639 
27,798 
21,487 
19,594 
21,038 
29,764 
11,250 
11,700 
7,133 
4,400 
4,400 
4,500 
5,200 
2,895 
4,686 
5,565 
b 
b 
b 
b 
9,633 
27,681 
1,205,462 
1,737,464 
1,538,952 
5,361,510 
6,712,550 
6,390,251 
8,069,903 
8,593,581 
5,858,700 
7,016,635 
10,619,066 
6,806,930 
18,625,436 

Barrels 

1884 

1885 

$     1,200 

1886 

4,000 

1887 

6,000 

1888 

1889 

1,460 

900 

675 

521 

400 

300 

200 

250 

500 

360 

360 

250 

250 

200 

0 

0 

181,084 

4,937,050 

24,281,973 

33,686,238 

30,898,339 

33,143,362 

31,317,038 

28,601,308 

23,893,899 

21,919,749 

19,041,695 

17,714,235 

15,776,860 

13,365,974 

$           4,906 

3,000 

2,363 

1,823 

1,400 

1,800 

1,200 

1,250 

2,000 

1,800 

1,800 

1,500 

1,250 

1,000 

0 

0 

116,561 

3,274,818 

16,432,947 

22,649,561 

19,788,864 

19,669,383 

19,734,339 

24,332,605 

30,971,910 

25,426,179 

18,655,850 

29,237,168 

31,358,069 

31,230,000 

10,615 

1890 

6,000 

1891 

6,000 

1892 

12,988 

1893 

1894 

14,000 
15,000 

1895 

7,500 

1896 

6,375 

1897 

5,000 

1898 

2,498 

1899 

2,067 

1900 

1,700 

1901 

1,825 

1902 

1,844 

1903 

3,310 

1904 

4,745 

1905 

7,223 

1906 

87,211 

1907 

143,577 

1908 

446,077 

1909 

644,401 

1910 

613,642 

1911 

687,726 

1912 

616,467 

1913 

574,015 

1914 

437,275 

1915 

350,371 

1916 

1917 

1918 

396,357 
479,072 
620,949 

a  Statistics  not  available  for  this  and  earlier  years. 

b  Concealed.    Less  than  three  producers. 

c  First  year  coke  was  produced  in  by-product  ovens  in  Illinois. 

d  Last  of  the  beehive  ovens  in  Illinois  permanently  dismantled. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


33 


products  in  Illinois,  1883  to  1918 — Continued 


Clay  Products 

Number 

Total  Value 

Common  Brick 

Drain  Tile 

Pottery 

Year 

of 
Firms 

Quantity 

Value 

Value 

Value 

27 

28 

29 

30 

31 

32 

33 

Thousands 

1883 

1884 

1885 

. . 1886 

1887 

1888 

1889 

1890 

1891 

1892 

a 

$  8,474,360 

7,619,884 

5,938,247 

5,498,574 

6,866,715 

7,259,825 

7,708,859 

9,642,490 

9,881,840 

11,190,797 

10,777,447 

12,361,786 

12,634,181 

13,220,489 

11,559,114 

15,176,161 
14,333,011 
15,210,990 

13,318,953 
14,791,938 
17,633,351 
17,190,753 
12,459,777 

a 

825,845 

717,079 

586,506 

516,263 

573,450 

664,684 

685,161 

930,561 

1,023,681 

1,015,541 

999,310 

1,125,024 

1,195,210 

1,494,807 

1,119,224 

1,196,526 
1,074,486 
1,210,499 

941,343 

1,066,057 

1,182,473 

738,963 

365,958    • 

a- 
$  4,495,613 
3,786,747 
2,831,752 
2,376,498 
3,205,674 
3,231,332 
3,981,577 
5,188,654 
5,131,621 
5,388,589 
5,167,165 
6,259,232 
5,719,906 
6,499,777 
4,834,652 

6,896,836 
6,126,911 
6,437,331 

4,898,698 
6,870,990 
6,738,152 
5,138,822 
3,218,758 

a 

%   1,418,572 

1,028,581 

517,684 

531,993 

823,847 

1,026,192 

734,249 

694,588 

693,783 

892,807 

1,002,463 

1,051,852 

1,052,588 

1,031,192 

1,421,878 

1,613,698 
1,372,049 
1,189,910 

1,041,927 
991,709 
1,200,465 
1,314,006 
1,077,861 

1893 

697 

1894 

678 

a 
$      421,482 
618,900 
637,537 
763,557 
776,773 
682,449 
694,414 
899,733 
829,696 
943,007 
982,903 
1,004,166 
806,954 

844,747 
979,811 
931,951 

780,579 

948,892 

1,125,506 

1,571,262 

1,769,735 

1895 

566 

1896 

570 

1897 

616 

1898 

643 

.  .  1899 

569 

. . 1900 

550 

1901 

515 
502 

1902 

1903 

492 

1904 

469 

1905 

466 

1906 

417 

1907 

400 

1908 

346 

1910 

330 

301 

1912 

263 

1914 

254 

225 

1916 

207 

1917 

1-68 

1918 

34 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Table  4. 

— Output  and  value  of  mineral 

Cement 

Year 

Natural 

Portland 

Sand  and  Gravel 

Quantity 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

34 

35 

36 

37 

38 

39 

1883 

Barrels 

Barrels 

Short  Tons 

1884 

a 
300,000 
226,000 
325,000 
332,055 
350,000 
363,117 
409,877 
472,876 
522,972 
466,267 
491,012 
544,326 
510,000 
630,228 
537,094 
369,276 
469,842 
607,820 
543,132 
360,308 
368,645 
365,843 
284,599 
188,859 

b 

b 

b 

b 

b 

b 

b 

b 

b 

b 

1885 

1886 

1887 

1888 

1889    . 

1890 

1891 

1892 

1893 

1894. . 

300 

750 

3,000 

15,000 

e 
53,000 
240,442 
528,925 
767,781 
1,257,500 
1,326,794 
1,545,500 
1,858,403 
2,036,093 
3,211,168 
4,241,392 
4,459,450 
4,582,341 
4,299,357 
5,083,799 
5,401,605 
5,156,869 
3,642,563 
4,659,990 
3,594,038 

$          540 

1,325 

5,250 

26,250 

e 
79,500 
300,552 
581,818 
977,541 
1,914,500 
1,449,114 
1.741,150 
2,461,494 
2,632,576 
2,707,044 
3,388,667 
4,119,012 
3,583,301 
3,212,819 
5,109,218 
5,007,288 
4,884,026 
3,386,431 
6,090,158 
5,695,186 

1895    . 

1896 

1897 

1898 

1899 

1900. . 

1901 

1902 

1903 

a 
1,206,671 
1,627,403 
2,657,559 
4,550,991 
6,657.748 
9,155,229 
8,586,508 
8,488,683 
6,957,901 
7,992,140 
7,696,130 
7,708,012 
8,365,225 
9,120,698 
6,355,406 

1904 

$  689,740 

1905 

693  772 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1,043,041 
1,367,653 
1,503,022 

1909 

1,949,497 

1910 

1,730,795 
1,990,922 
1,929,822 
2,070,491 
1,859,519 
1,984,569 
2,587,437 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915. . 

1916 

1917 

3,658,799 

1918 

3,980  124 

a  Statistics  not  available  for  this  and  earlier  years. 

b  Concealed.    Less  than  three  producers. 

e  Prior  to  this  date,  the  cement  production  was  entirely  slag  cement  manufactured  by  the  Illinois  Steel  Co. 
at  Chicago.  Operations  were  abandoned  by  this  company  after  their  plant  was  destroyed  by  fire  Feb.  3,  1898, 
but  three  new  plants  were  under  construction  by  other  companies  at  La  Salle. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


35 


products  in  Illinois,  1883  to  1918 — Continued 


Stone  and  Lime 


Stone 


Limestone    Sandstone 


Lime 


Fluorspar 


Year 


Value 


Quantity 


$2,190,607 
2,030,000 
3,185,000 
2,305,000 
2,555,952 
1,687,662 
1,261,359 
1,483,157 
1,421,072 
2,066,483 
1,881,151 
2,289,819 
3,222,608 
3,206,271 
3,151,890 
3,511,890 
2,942,331 
3,774,346 
3,122,552 
4,234,927 
3,847,715 
3,436,977 
3,808,784 
4,112,172 
2,861,340 
2,864,103 
3,362,751 
3,279,737 
2,951,045 


Short  Tons 


a 
$17,896 
10,000 
7,500 
16,859 
10,732 
6,558 
15,061 
14,250 
13,758 
16,133 
19,141 
12,884 
32,200 
26,293 
47,377 
29,115 
19,125 
14,996 
12,218 
26,891 
5,710 
30,953 
32,720 
28,781 
72,738 
43,307 
40,343 
42,304 
b 


Value 


Quantity 


44 


108,881 

98,907 

121,546 

124,784 

92,549 

104,260 

113,239 

92,169 

98,450 

95,977 

87,603 

88,604 

80,012 

83,409 

64,672 


$387,973 
164,785 
145,294 
228,220 
127,156 
194,773 
246,575 
504,018 
485,644 
479,801 
461,088 
421,589 
534,118 
559,305 
393,951 
454,682 
503,581 
423,762 
394,892 
433,331 
383,989 
352,954 
369,038 
412,184 
535,090 


Short  Tons 
4,000 
4,000 
5,000 
5,000 
5,000 
6,000 
9,500 
8,250 
10,044 
12,250 
12,400 
7,500 
4,000 
4,000 
2,500 
b 

8,500 

3,690 

b 

18,360 

11,413 

17,205 

33,275 

28,268 

25,128 

31,727 

41,852 

47,302 

68,817 

114,410 

85,854 

73,811 

b 

b 

156,676 

132,798 


Value 


$  20,000 
20,000 
22,500 
22,000 
20,000 
30,000 
45,835 
55,328 
78,330 
89,000 
84,000 
47,500 
24,000 
32,000 
18,300 

b 

75,000 

8,900 

b 

121,532 

57,620 

122,172 

220,206 

160,623 

141,971 

172,838 

232,251 

277,764 

481,635 

756,653 

550,815 

426,063 

b 

b 

1,373,333 

2,887,099 


.1883 
.1884 
.1885 
.1886 
.1887 
.1888 
.1889 
.1890 
.1891 
.1892 
.1893 
.1894 
.1895 
.1896 
.1897 
.1898 
.1899 
.1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 


36 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Table  4. — Output  and  value  of  mineral 


Year 

Natural  Gas  Gasoline 

Zinc 

Clay 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

47 

48 

49 

50 

51 

52 

53 

1902 

Gallons 

Short  Tons 

Short  Tons 
52,152 
71,038 
88,965 
127,728 
139,704 
123,775 
117,082 
144,060 
188,803 
182,836 
176,558 
194.937 
161,084 
163,904 
197,701 
195,693 
169,182 

$    38,463 

1903... 

73,842 

1904 

71,086 

1905 

f 

282 
737 
1,717 
2,163 
3,549 
4,219 
4,065 
2,236 
4,811 
5,534 
3,404 
4,267 
3,792 

/ 
$      33,840 
186,966 
161,398 
223,604 
383,292 
480,966 
560,970 
250,432 
490,772 
1,372,432 
912,272 
870,468 
690,144 

120,410 

1906 

131,272 

1907 

105,703 

1908 

114,482 

1909 

150,868 

1910 

190,896 

1911 

b 

b 
581,171 
1,164,178 
1,035,204 
2,260,288 
4,934,009 
4,574,565 

b 

b 

%  67,106 

100,331 

80,049 

262,664 

866,033 

890,436 

183,826 

1912 

192,663 

1913 

204,037 

1914 

168,354 

1915 

169,320 

1916 

378,440 

1917 

789,589 

1918 

413,901 

a  Statistics  not  available  for  this  and  earlier  years. 
b  Concealed.    Less  than  three  producers. 

f  There  was  a  small  but  unrecorded  production  of  zinc  from  1900  to  1905.     Prior  to  1900,  production  was 
negligible. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


37 


products  in  Illinois,  1883  to  1918 — Concluded 


Tripoli 

Pyrite 

Silver                                    Mineral  Waters 

Year 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value              Quantity 

Value 

54 

55 

56 

57 

58                       59 

60 

61 

Short  Tons 

Short  Tons 

Fine  Ounces 

Gallons 
508,016 

$    29,640 
149,978 
38,096 
47,995 
77,287 
91,760 
58,904 
49,108 
83,148 
82,330 
74,445 
68,549 
81,307 
75,290 
94,056 
66,042 
43,448 

1902 

1,118,240 

1903 

392,800 

1904 

425,756 

1905 

a 

a 

b 

b 

5,600 

8,541 

17,441 

27,008 

11,246 

22,538 

14,849 

20,482 

24,596 

24,369 

a 

b 

b 
517,551 
28,159 
47,020 
62,980 
31,966 
59,079 
22,476 
51,432 
89,998 
85,659 

a 
2,852 
2,051 
1,011 
2,022 
3,036 
4,731 
3,541 
2,112 
3,864 
5,684 
7,186 
8,171 

a                    574,453 
S1.882               720,406 
1,087     ,          685,763 
526     '          639,460 
1,092            1,117,620 
1,609            1,304,950 
2,909            1,143,625 
2,139             1,216,442 
1,168            1,760,030 
1,959     ,       1,559,489 
3,740            1,777,741 
5,921            1,370,461 
8,171               921,953 

1906 

b 

1907 

b 

1908 

S  39,262 

1909 

33,390 

1910 

45,910 

1911 

27,339 

1912 

128,892 

1913 

59,394 
59,390 

1914 

1915 

82,968 

1919 

31,338 

1917 

18,902 

1918 

3$  YEAR  BOOK   FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Table  5. — Products  and  total  mineral  values,   by  counties,  1917 


County 


Adams.  .  . 
Alexander . 
Bond.  .  .  . 
Boone . . . . 
Brown .  .  . 
Bureau. .  . 
Calhoun. . 
Carroll .  .  . 


Champaign  . 
Christian .  .  . 

Clark 

Clay 

Clinton .... 

Coles 

Cook 

Crawford .  .  . 
Cumberland. 

DeKalb 

DeWitt 

Douglas.  .  .  . 
DuPage.  .  .  . 

Edgar 

Edwards.  .  . 
Effingham.  . 
Fayette .... 

Ford 

Franklin.  .  .  . 

Fulton 

Gallatin.  .  .  . 

Greene 

Grundy. . . . 
Hamilton.  .  . 
Hancock .  .  . 

Hardin 

Henderson. . 

Henry 

Iroquois. .  .  . 
Jackson  .... 

Jasper 

Jefferson  .  .  . 

Jersey 

Jo  Daviess. . 
Johnson. . . . 

Kane 

Kankakee .  . 

Kendall 

Knox 

Lake 

La  Salle.  .  .  . 


Lawrence. .  . 

Lee 

Livingston. . 

Logan 

McDonough 
McHenry .  . 
McLean. .  .  . 


Products 
(named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance) 


Lime,  limestone,  brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel.  .  . 

Sandstone,  tripoli,  sand  and  gravel 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas 

Limestone,  brick  and  tile,  pottery,  sand  and  gravel. 

Mineral  water 

Coal,  brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas. . 


Limestone,  sand  and  gravel 

Brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel. . . 

Brick  and  tile,  natural  gas 

Coal,  brick  and  tile 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  limestone. 


Coal,  petroleum,  brick  and  tile 

Petroleum 

Brick  and  tile,  limestone,  pottery,  lime,  sand  and  gravel 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  sand  and  gravel,  limestone 

Petroleum,  natural  gas 

Sand  and  gravel 

Natural  gas,  brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile 

Limestone,  brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile,  petroleum,  natural  gas 

Brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel 

Sand  and  gravel 

Coal 


Coal,  brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel 

Coal,  brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile,  pottery,  coal,  clay,  limestone 

Coal,  brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile 

Brick  and  tile,  coal,  sand  and  gravel 

Fluorspar,  lead,  silver,  limestone 

Sand  and  gravel 

Coal,  brick  and  tile,  mineral  water 

Brick  and  tile 

Coal,  brick  and  tile 

Petroleum 


Brick  and  tile,  limestone 

Zinc,  lead,  sand  and  gravel 

Limestone,  coal 

Sand  and  gravel,  pottery,  brick  and  tile,  limestone,  mineral  water.  .  .  . 

Brick  and  tile,  limestone,  lime 

Sand  and  gravel,  limestone 

Brick  and  tile,  pottery,  coal 

Brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel,  mineral  water 

Cement,  coal,  brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel,  quartz,  clay,  pottery 

mineral  water 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  sand  and  gravel,  brick  and  tile 

Cement,  brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel,  limestone,  natural  gas 

Brick  and  tile,  coal,  sand  and  gravel,  clay 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  brick  and  tile,  natural  gas 

Brick  and  tile,  pottery,  petroleum,  clay,  coal 

Brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel,  mineral  water 

Coal,  brick  and  tile 


Total  value 


$     380,170 

80,344 

327,275 

30,852 

(b) 

3,531,913 

1,835 

16,124 

24,647 

5,056,626 

a2, 294, 162 

2,658,020 
(b) 

7,947,409 
a8, 365, 682 
"660,535 
(b) 

853 
(b) 

71,323 
9,890 
181,864 
(b) 

(b) 
(b) 

24,826,209 

5,910,756 

164,706 

581,857 

1,203,950 

(b) 

47,515 
1,527,944 
(b) 
122,708 
62,037 
1,927,481 
(b) 

63,167 

9  72,661 

(b) 

285,784 

845,187 

71,830 

1,313,272 

157.697 

10,852,775 

a12, 225,976 

1,457,474 

1,247,102 

1,323,942 

1,264,838 

532,272 

312.268 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


39 


Table  5. — Products  and  total  mineral  values,  by  counties,  1917 — Concluded 


County 

Products 
(named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance) 

Total  value 

$         982,444 

Macoupin 

Madison 

all,481  927 

Coal,  brick  and  tile,  limestone,  lime,  sand  and  gravel,  pyrite,  mineral 
water,  petroleum 

9,553,424 
2,454,389 

Coal 

1,134,268 

(b) 

&) 

424,601 

814,453 

(b) 

8,032,434 

Morgan 

Mineral  water,  brick  and  tile,  petroleum,  natural  gas 

47,575 
496,096 

Ogle 

444,096 

3,137,042 

Coal 

5,209,006 

Piatt 

Pike 

58,468 

Pope 

1,864 

(b) 

1,397,864 

Randolph 

Coal,  limestone,  sand  and  gravel,  brick  and  tile,  sandstone 

2,408,277 

356,674 

9,370,941 

14,102,450 

34,815 

Scott 

107,684 

Shelby 

318,490 

St.  Clair 

12,466.527 

Stark 

16,207 

13,206 

1,386,596 

546,594 

8,688,396 

69,651 

639,120 

1,515,059 

White 

305,921 

25,818 

Will .... 

2,972,173 

20,510,567 

328,995 

611,478 

aThe  figures  for  natural  gas  and  petroleum  for  certain  counties  have  been  estimated  since  some  com, 
panies  have  no  way  of  dividing  the  total  figures  into  county  units.  An  approximation  of  the  values  for  Clark 
Crawford,  Cumberland,  Lawrence,  and  Macoupin  counties  was  made  by  dividing  the  totals  for  two  different 
large  companies  into  the  proportion  of  the  number  of  wells  in  each  county. 

bConcealed,  fewer  than  three  producers  reporting  production. 


4Q  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Table  6. — Products  and  total  mineral  values,  by  counties,  1918 


County 

Products 
(named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance) 

Total  value 

$    356,956 

133,680 

553,507 

56,002 

Bond 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas 

(b) 

Bureau 

Coal,  brick  and  tile,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas 

3,860,197 

Carroll 

(b) 

19,385 
6,595 

Cass 

Sand  and  gravel,  brick  and  tile 

6,798,345 

Clark  

Clay. . . 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  limestone 

a6, 207,764 

Clinton 

3,567,561 

13,268 

4,764  033 

a8, 533,481 

Cumberland 

DeKalb .  . 

Petroleum,  natural  gas 

a754,198 
(b) 

DeWitt . 

(b) 

(b) 

(b) 

Edgar 

Brick  and  tile,  petroleum,  natural  gas 

12,762 
99,685 

(b) 

Fayette .  .  . 

56,515 

Franklin 

Coal 

29,224,580 

Fulton 

6,722.486 

Gallatin 

496,326 

Greene 

Grundy . . . 

Brick  and  tile,  pottery,  coal,  clay 

583,062 
1,089,994 

Hamilton.  . 

(b) 

25,182 

Hardin 

2,914,734 

Henderson 

(b) 

Henry 

121,132 

Iroquois 

40,248 

2,757,684 

(b) 

Jersey 

43,899 

Jo  Daviess 

539,934 

Johnson 

Limestone,  coal 

48,610 

Kane 

203,699 

Kankakee 

656,888 

Kendall 

49,184 

Knox 

Brick  and  tile,  pottery,  coal 

798,213 

Lake 

14,303 

La  Salle 

Cement,  coal,  sand  and  gravel,  brick  and  tile,  clay,  quartz,  mineral 
water,  pottery 

Lawrence 

11,825,517 
ai6, 526,334 

Lee 

Cement,  brick  and  tile,  limestone,  natural  gas,  sand  and  gravel 

Brick  and  tile,  coal,  sand  and  gravel,  clay 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  petroleum,  brick  and  tile,  natural  gas 

Brick  and  tile,  pottery,  petroleum,  clay,  coal 

990,211 

Livingston 

Logan 

1,102,318 
1,242,800 

McDonough 

McHenrv 

1,365,982 
352,244 

McLean 

256,542 

MINERAL  RESOURCES 


41 


Table  6. — Products  and  total  mineral  values,  by  counties,  1918 — Concluded 


County 

Products 
(named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance) 

Total  value 

1,095,333 

ai6, 021,122 

Madison 

Coal,  brick  and  tile,  limestone,  lime,  sand  and  gravel,  pyrite,  mineral 

22,213,442 

Marion 

Coal,  petroleum 

2,741,697 
1,327,768 

(b) 

485,713 

1,021,715 

(b) 

9,796,886 

Morgan 

Mineral  water,  brick  and  tile,  petroleum,  natural  gas 

29,324 

(b) 

Ogle 

397,391 

3,434,142 

Coal 

6,525,306 

Piatt.. 

Pike 

71,915 

88,387 

(b) 

1,451,447 

3,609,571 

Rock  Island 

Sand  and  gravel,  coal,  brick  and  tile,  mineral  water,  pottery 

259,196 
13,522,259 

18,677,051 

21,148 

Scott 

Shelby 

Brick  and  tile,  clay,  coal 

53,610 
526,551 

St.  Clair 

17,090,637 

Stark  

Coal 

(b) 

1,559,231 

166,569 

11,186,641 

244,739 

Warren 

Pottery,  brick  and  tile,  coal 

569,317 
1,873,945 

White 

404,085 

Will 

3,348,797 

Whiteside 

25,044 

Williamson 

26,149,223 

196,871 

530,710 

aThe  figures  for  natural  gas  and  petroleum  for  certain  counties  have  been  estimated  since  some  com- 
panies have  no  way  of  dividing  the  total  figures  into  county  units.  An  approximation  of  the  values  for  Clark » 
Crawford,  Cumberland,  Lawrence  and  Macoupin  counties  was  made  by  dividing  the  totals  for  two  different 
large  companies  into  the  proportion  of  the  number  of  wells  in  each  county. 

bConcealed,  fewer  than  three  producers  reporting  production. 


4?  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Almost  every  county  in  the  State  reports  some  sort  of  mineral  product 
and  many  of  the  more  important  industries,  as  coal,  oil,  clay  products,  stone, 
and  sand  and  gravel,  are  represented  very  widely  among  the  counties. 
Inspection  of  Figure  2  and  of  Tables  5  and  6  will  serve  to  illustrate  these 
facts. 


MAJf>    OP 

ILLINOIS 


Fig.  2.  Map  showing  graphically  the  mineral  industries  of  each  county  for  1918,  and  the 
ranks  of  the  counties  in  the  industries. 
The  rank  of  an  industry  in  a  county  is  indicated  by  its  relative  position  from  left  to 
right  within  the  county  and  its  rank  in  the  State  is  shown  by  the  figure  accompanying  the 
symbol.  For  example,  the  coal  symbol  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Madison  County  repre- 
sents the  most  important  industry  in  the  county  and  the  seventh  in  value  in  the  State. 


mineral  resources  43 

Scheme  of  Report 

One  of  the  ways  in  which  the  Survey  performs  its  duty  of  keeping  in 
close  touch  with  activity  of  the  mineral  industries,  is  by  study  and  publica- 
tion of  statistics  of  mineral  production.  The  custom  of  publishing  annual 
or  biennial  reports  on  the  "Mineral  Resources"  is  carried  on  by  this  report 
for  the  years  1917  and  1918,  but  the  scheme  of  presentation  has  been 
changed. 

In  previous  years  the  "Mineral  Resources"  reports  have  discussed  the 
various  mineral  industries  in  about  the  order  of  decreasing  importance  from 
the  standpoint  of  value.  The  order  adopted  for  this  one  report  calls  for  a 
discussion  of  the  oldest  industries  first  and  the  youngest  last.  It  is  hoped 
that  historical  perspective  will  thus  be  achieved,  and  the  purpose  of  this 
report,  namely,  to  emphasize  the  progress  of  development  of  mineral  indus- 
tries in  Illinois,  will  thus  be  furthered. 

PERIODS  OF  DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  STATE  AND  ITS 
MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Just  as  the  history  of  the  State  divides  itself  into  four  sub-equal  periods, 
so  do  the  mineral  industries  readily  fall  into  a  similar  grouping:  the  fron- 
tier or  pioneer  period,  1818  to  1848;  the  era  of  the  Civil  War,  1848  to 
1870;  the  time  of  industrial  growth,  1870  to  1893;  and  a  fourth  period 
which  for  lack  of  a  more  distinctive  name,  may  be  called  "modern,"  1893 
to   1918. 

Naturally  during  the  frontier  period  and  the  pre-1818  years,  develop- 
ment of  mineral  wealth  was  unimportant.  Of  the  long  list  of  minerals  now 
produced,  probably  lead  alone  was  among-  the  mineral  resources  that  the 
explorers  and  earliest  settlers  desired  and  sought  for.  The  glamour  of  gold 
and  silver  doubtless  occupied  the  central  position  in  the  background  of  the 
explorer's  mind,  and  Indian  tales  of  pieces  of  copper  found  lying  on  the 
surface  as  well  as  deposits  of  lead  worked  by  the  Indians  prior  to  the  com- 
ing of  the  white  men,  long  inspired  the  hope  of  great  metal  mines.  The 
early  settlers'  real  but  perforce  inadequate  recognition  of  the  value  of  the 
coal  deposits  kept  them  on  the  lookout  for  easily  accessible  outcrops ;  and 
salt  as  an  immediate  necessity,  and  iron  as  a  later  need  were  early  developed. 
But  beyond  the  metals,  coal,  and  salt,  the  desires  of  the  explorers  and 
pioneers  did  not  go  and  little  did  they  realize  that  the  one  of  these  they 
looked  upon  with  least  interest  was  later  to  be  the  foundation  of  the  State's 
industrial  prosperity. 

It  was  not  until  well  into  the  second  period,  specifically  not  until  the 
sixties,  that  coal  production  increased  perceptibly  and  meanwhile  other  indus- 
tries lagged  even  more.  With  the  passing  of  the  second  quarter  of  the 
century  the  beginnings  of  great  mineral  development  were  beginning  to  be 
apparent.     But  it  was  not  until  the  close  of  the  third  quarter-century  that 


44  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

the  variety  and  value  of  the  developed  resources  began  to  give  real  promise 
of  their  present  magnitude. 

REASONS  FOR  DELAYED  DEVELOPMENT 
Natural  though  it  was  that  large  development  of  mineral  wealth  should 
not  accompany  early  settlement,  still  for  the  sake  of  clearness  of  conception, 
it  is  worth  while  to  analyze  some  of  the  reasons  for  the  slowness  with  which 
Illinois  responded  to  the  opportunities  that  lay  hidden  beneath  and  within 
her  soils  and  rocks. 

The  adventurous  early  visitors  to  the  region  may  not  have  been  willing 
to  stay  themselves  long  for  minerals  less  alluring  than  gold  and  silver,  but 
with  the  arrival  of  the  first  home-makers,  unafraid  of  toil  and  willing  to  win 
a  livelihood  more  slowly,  lack  of  development  can  not  be  laid  to  the  unro- 
mantic  character  of  the  mineral  resources  Illinois  could  offer.  The  early 
lack  of  development  was  due  rather  to  certain  geologic  and  geographic  con- 
ditions and  to  lack  of  transportation. 

Transportation  Problems 
Transportation  problems  were  so  intimately  related  to  the  development 
of  the  coal  industry  in  Illinois  that  detailed  consideration  of  this  question 
is  reserved  for  discussion  of  that  industry.  At  this  point  it  will  suffice  to 
point  out  that  most  of  Illinois'  mineral  products  are  relatively  bulky  and  that 
obviously  therefore  the  transportation  problem  was  one  that  had  to  be  solved 
before  production  for  use  distant  from  the  source  could  be  economically 
possible. 

Geologic  Conditions 

To  the  greatest  depths  explored  by  shaft  and  drill,  the  rocks  beneath 
the  surface  in  Illinois  are  all  sedimentary,  that  is  they  originated  as  deposits 
or  sediments  laid  down  in  ancient  seas  which  at  different  times  covered  the 
whole  or  parts  of  the  area.  Layers  of  sand,  clay,  broken  shells,  vegetable 
material,  or  mixtures  of  two  or  more  of  these  varieties  of  sediments  became 
hardened  by  cementation  and  by  pressure  of  later  overlying  sediments  into 
beds  of  solid  rock — sandstone,  shale,  limestone,  and  coal  corresponding  to 
the  original  layers  of  sand,  mud,  shells,  and  vegetable  material. 

By  the  close  of  what  geologists  call  Paleozoic  time,  several  million  years 
ago,  the  last  of  the  seas  in  which  these  sediments  were  laid  down  had  dis- 
appeared, and  from  that  time  until  the  present,  Illinois  was  almost  entirely 
continuously  above  sea  level.  Ten  thousand  feet  more  or  less  of  flat-lying 
rocks  and  sediments  had  accumulated  in  the  Illinois  area  during  Paleozoic 
time.  At  the  close  of  the  Paleozoic  era  this  whole  great  thickness  was 
warped,  in  most  places  gently,  until  the  sediments  and  rocks  were  no  longer 
flat-lying  but  had  the  form  of  the  bowl  of  an  extremely  shallow  and  some- 
what misshapen  spoon,  the  rim  of  which  happened  to  conform  roughly  to 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  45 

the  outline  of  the  State.  During  the  long  land  period  from  the  close  of  the 
Paleozoic  era  to  the  present,  the  rim,  that  is  the  higher  portions,  of  the 
"spoon"  were  lowered  by  wind,  streams,  and  frost  more  rapidly  than  were 
the  lower  parts  at  the  center  of  the  "spoon,"  until  finally  the  whole  area 
was  reduced  to  a  gently  rolling  plain,  and  the  shape  of  the  surface  no  longer 
indicated  the  warping.  The  structure  of  the  remaining  rocks  can  still  tell 
the  tale  however — the  oldest  come  to  the  surface  about  the  borders  of  the 
State  marking  the  spoon  rim,  and  dip  gently  and  successively  beneath  younger 
ones  towards  its  center,  which  was  the  axis  of  the  deformation. 

Recently,  as  compared  with  the  Paleozoic  warping,  but  actually  mam- 
thousands  of  years  ago,  great  continental  ice  sheets  hundreds  of  feet  thick- 
spread  of  their  own  weight  at  least  five  times  over  large  areas  of  Illinois,  each 
time  curtaining  the  old  surface  more  and  more  thickly  with  clay,  gravel,  and 
sand  ("glacial  drift"),  which  was  left  by  the  ice  when  climatic  changes 
caused  the  glaciers  to  melt.  All  the  State  was  covered  at  least  once  by  ice 
sheets  with  the  exception  of  two  small  areas,  one  the  northwest  corner  of 
the  State,  including  all  of  Jo  Daviess  and  parts  of  Carroll  and  Stephenson 
counties,  and  the  other  the  extreme  southern  part,  including  all  of  Pope, 
Hardin,  Pulaski,  Massac,  Union,  and  Alexander,  and  parts  of  Jackson, 
Saline,  and  Gallatin  counties. 

On  the  west  side  of  the  State,  Mississippi  River  and  its  larger  tribu- 
taries have  cut  through  the  drift  in  many  places,  making  accessible  the 
underlying  rocks  and  their  contained  mineral  resources ;  and  so  it  is  too 
along  the  Wabash  to  some  extent.  Remembering  the  unglaciated  north- 
western corners  and  southern  end  of  the  State,  the  generalization  may  then 
be  made  that  in  a  belt  around  the  west,  south,  and  southeast,  there  is  more 
chance  for  exposure  of  the  mineral  resources  found  in  hard  rocks  than  there 
is  in  the  central  part  of  the  area  where  the  drift  is  still  thick  and  relatively 
unbroken  in  most  places. 

Thus  the  vast  resources  of  the  heart  of  the  State  were  concealed  from 
the  view  of  the  early  settlers  by  geologic  conditions,  and  development  of 
resources  tended  to  begin  earlier  nearer  the  borders  of  the  State,  than  in  the 
interior. 

Geographic  Conditions 

the  effect  of  the  forests 

The  effect  of  the  forests,  the  distribution  of  which  is  shown  in  figure  3, 
was  somewhat  contradictory.  On  the  one  hand,  population  spread  up  the 
main  valleys  attracted  by  the  abundance  of  game,  water,  and  wood,  and  thus 
settlers  were  early  led  into  the  very  parts  of  the  State  where  geologic  con- 
ditions made  most  easily  available  such  important  mineral  resources  as  stone, 
coal,  lead,  and  salt.  But  on  the  other  hand  the  very  presence  of  the  forests 
was  a  hindrance  because  it  slowed  up  thorough  exploration,  at  least  for  a 


46 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


MAP    OP 

ILLINOIS 


Fig.   3. 


Map  of  Illinois  showing  the  original  wooded  areas,  the   distribution  of  population 
in  1820,  and  the  location  of  early  mineral  production. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  47 

short  time.  All  in  all,  however,  it  was  the  first  effect  that  was  the  more 
powerful  and  in  general  it  is  clear  that  the  forests  furthered  relatively  early 
utilization  of  mineral  resources. 

THE  EFFECT   OF  THE   PRAIRIES 

Development  of  the  mineral  resources  of  the  central  drift-covered,  or 
"basin"  part  of  Illinois  had  to  wait  until  population  spread  out  of  the  for- 
ested stream  valleys  onto  the  treeless  and  originally  ill-drained  prairies  which 
are  typical  of  that  section  of  the  State. 

Barrows  says1  that  the  prairies  aroused  the  wonder  of  all  early  travelers 
but  "were  generally  shunned  by  the  first  comers  for  several  reasons:  (1) 
absence  of  trees  was  thought  to  mean  that  they  were  infertile;  (2)  timber 
was  imperatively  needed  for  buildings,  fences,  and  fuel;  (3)  they  did  not 
afford  running  water  for  stock  or  mills,  while  the  lack  of  fuel  left  steam 
mills  out  of  the  question;  (4)  there  was  no  protection  from  the  bitter  winds 
of  winter  which  above  all  else  made  that  season  disagreeable.  Men  and  cat- 
tle have  even  been  known  to  perish  in  storms  on  the  open  prairies;  (5)  to 
the  farmer  the  prairies  with  their  tough  sod  and  matted  roots  constituted  a 
new  and  altogether  unknown  problem." 

If  only  the  farmers  had  known  that  within  and  beneath  the  mask  of 
drift  of  the  prairies  was  stored  not  only  fuel  and  water  in  abundance,  but 
also  that  the  drift  itself  was  one  of  the  richest  sources  of  plant  food  in  the 
world,  the  prairies  need  not  have  waited  for  about  half  of  the  century  for 
their  share  of  population.  Commonly  south  of  the  latitude  of  Rock  Island 
an  abundance  of  coal  at  a  practical  depth  for  mines  was  to  be  had ;  in  widely 
distributed  strata  and  lenses  of  sand  and  gravel  that  constituted  part  of  the 
drift,  water  was  stored  in  plenty ;  and  the  upper  part  of  the  drift,  once  the 
sod  was  broken,  formed  one  of  the  richest  soils  in  the  world.  But  so  dif- 
ficult were  prairie  conditions  for  the  pioneer,  that  general  development  of 
mineral  resources  was  markedly  retarded  in  the  heart  of  the  State.  An 
exception  is  seen  in  the  early  settlement  and  activity  in  the  La  Salle  region 
where  unusual  geologic  conditions  made  easier  both  discovery  and  marketing 
of  mineral  deposits  and  products. 

MINERAL  RESOURCES  AND  INDUSTRIES 
Pre-1818  Period 

The  earliest  minerals  utilized  by  man  in  Illinois  were  of  course  water 
and  soils,  but  both  are  so  universally  needed,  used,  and  distributed  that  they 
are  not  to  be  considered  as  commodities  in  the  ordinary  sense. 

Salt,  lead,  limestone,  ore,  and  coal  were  mineral  resources  of  later 
development,  but  they  too  belong  to  the  pre-1818  group  (fig.  3). 


iBarrows,  Harlan  H.,  Geography  of  the  middle  Illinois  valley:     111.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.   15,  p.  77,  1910. 


48  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

SOILS 

The  value  of  iron  and  of  coal  may  be  emphasized  as  strongly  as  pos- 
sible, and  these  two  may  be  used  as  the  measure  of  a  nation's  wealth  ;  but 
it  must  never  be  forgotten  that  after  all  the  ultimate  dependence  of  man 
is  both  directly  and  indirectly  on  the  soils.  They  constitute  a  mineral 
resource  whose  value  is  immeasurable — mineral  because  soil  is  based  on 
finely  ground  minerals,  and  immeasurable  because  it  is  an  original  source 
of  the  substance  of  life.  In  the  matter  of  soils,  the  events  of  Illinois  geologi- 
cal history  had  particularly  favorable  results.  For,  far  from  removing  every 
vestige  of  soil  or  leaving  a  meager  stony  covering  as  was  left  over  New 
England,  the  glaciers  brought  to  Illinois  many  different  kinds  of  rock  mate- 
rial, the  bulk  of  it  ground  to  fineness,  but  still  possessed  of  all  the  original 
ingredients  of  fresh  rock,  and  capable  of  constant  liberation  of  plant  food. 
Different  indeed  is  such  a  soil  from  one  that  is  a  residual  from  decayed  rock 
and  has  therefore  lost  much  of  its  mineral  plant  food  by  the  time  it  has 
reached  the  stage  of  comminution  that  renders  it  texturally  suited  for  crop 
growth. 

Mineral  in  origin  though  soils  may  be,  so  unequalled  is  their  importance 
that  their  study  is  a  science  in  itself.  And  so  with  the  reminder  that  Illinois 
soil  is  its  most  valuable  mineral  resource,  it  will  be  left  to  the  agriculturists. 

WATERS 

It  is  true  that  statistics  are  given  for  a  nominal  water  industry  (Table 
4),  but  these  figures  give  no  conception  of  the  true  amount  and  value  of 
water  taken  from  the  rocks  and  soils.  Compare  them,  for  example,  with 
the  estimate  made  by  Leverett  in  1896,  when  population  was  smaller  than 
it  is  now,  that  "the  total  supply  from  [shallow  wells]  is  about  840,000  bar- 
rels for  household  consumption  and  700,000  barrels  for  stock,  or  about 
1,500,000  barrels  per  day.  About  one-half  the  population  of  the  State  is 
thus  supplied  with  water  for  cooking  and  drinking,  the  other  half  being  sup- 
plied mainly  from  Lake  Michigan  and  from  the  streams,  deep  wells  furnish- 
ing the  supply  for  but  a  small  part  of  the  population."1 

It  is  a  significant  fact  that  even  in  the  area  which  is  dominated  by  the 
Lake,  deep  (or  artesian)  wells  are  sources  of  water  for  industrial  purposes. 
It  would  seem  that  the  original  cost  of  drilling  a  two-thousand- foot  well 
with  its  smallest  diameter  from  six  to  twenty  inches,  and  the  continual 
expense  of  upkeep  and  pumping  would  eliminate  wells  as  a  source  of  supply 
in  a  district  where  water  is  as  abundant  as  it  is  in  the  region  of  Lake  Michi- 
gan. And  yet  in  Chicago  during  the  summer  of  1914  there  were  in  active 
service  125  wells  over  1,000  feet  deep,  with  a  pumpage  of  over  30,100,000 
gallons  per  24  hours ;   and  within  a  circle  of  a  half-mile  radius  in  the  stock- 


iLeverett,    "The   "Water    Resources    of   Illinois,"    in    United    States    Geological    Survey, 
Seventeenth  Annual  Report,  1896,  part  2,  p.  7fi9. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  49 

yards  district  26  wells  delivered  13,450,200  gallons,  or  44.3  per  cent  of  the 
total  daily  deep-well  pumpage  in  the  city.1 

Industries  in  other  parts  of  the  State  are  forced  to  depend  upon  deep 
wells  for  water  supplies,  but  such  statistics  as  these  for  the  Chicago  district 
where  an  alternative  source  is  at  hand,  demonstrate  clearly  the  real  impor- 
tance and  value  of  deep  underground  water  supplies.  Deep-well  sources 
are  destined  to  become  of  ever-increasing  importance,  especially  outside  the 
Lake  cities,  as  a  direct  consequence  of  the  increasing  danger  of  the  pollution 
of  shallow  sources  that  accompanies  the  growth  of  population. 

SALT 

After  waters  and  soils,  probably  the  next  resource  used  by  human 
beings  prior  to  1818  was  salt.  The  history  of  this  industry  is  especially 
interesting  because  of  its  relationship  to  the  settlement  of  the  Mississippi 
Valley.  Before  some  of  the  present  most  important  deposits  of  salt  were 
known,  extreme  southern  Illinois  was  one  of  the  very  few,  and  of  these  few 
the  most  important  of  the  sources  of  salt  west  of  the  Appalachians.  Indeed, 
so  difficult  was  it  to  obtain,  that  for  years  the  government  reserved  from 
sales  all  lands  containing  salt  springs,  and  the  historic  Gallatin  County  brines 
were  worked  under  the  direction  of  army  officers.  Many  saline  springs  pour 
brine  into  all  the  water  courses  of  Saline  and  Gallatin  counties,  but  only  in 
Gallatin  County  about  one  mile  south  of  the  town  of  Equality  (fig.  3)  on 
the  north  side  of  Saline  River  was  it  of  sufficient  strength  to  be  profitable. 

Near  the  site  of  these  springs  is  the  "Half-moon,"2  a  semi-circular 
excavation  as  its  name  implies,  100  yards  in  diameter  and  six  to  eight  deep, 
believed  to  have  been  made  by  buffaloes  or  other  wild  animals  that  prob- 
ably congregated  in  great  herds  to  lick  the  salt.  Still  earlier,  mammoths 
and  mastodons  visited  the  swamp  for  the  sake  of  the  salt  as  is  evidenced  by 
the  numerous  teeth,  and  sometimes  even  parts  of  skeletons  embedded  in  the 
soil.  The  Indians,  too,  visited  the  site,  for  around  the  springs  fragments 
of  Indian  pottery  were  formerly  very  plentiful.  "To  judge  from  the  curva- 
ture of  some  of  these  fragments,  the  vessels  to  which  they  belonged  were 
not  less  than  4  or  5  feet  in  diameter,  a  size  truly  astonishing  made  as  they 
appear  to  have  been  of  common  clay  and  fragments  of  fresh  water  shells. 
From  the  large  size  of  these  pots  it  is  natural  to  infer  that  they  were  used 
by  a  pre-historic  race  of  salt  makers."3 

A  vivid  description  of  the  early  historic  use  of  the  brines  in  an  old  report 
emphasizes  the  vital  importance  and  the  truly  industrial  character  of  its  pro- 
duction in  contrast  to  what  was  little  more  than  haphazard  utilization  in  the 
case  of  water,  and  building  stone.  "The  brine  then  used  required  from  125 
to  280  gallons  to  make  one  bushel   (50  pounds)  of  salt.     Between  one  and 


iBulletin  34,  111.  Geol.  Sur. 

2Cox,  E.  T.,  Geology  of  Gallatin  County:    Geol.  Survey  of  Illinois,  Vol.  VI,  p.  213,  1875. 

sibid.,  p.  216. 


50  YEAR    BOOK   FOR    1917  AND   1918 

two  thousand  hands  were  employed,  and  the  yield  of  the  works  has  been 
estimated  at  80  to  100  bushels  of  salt  per  diem.  So  greatly  was  the  demand 
beyond  the  power  of  the  works  to  supply  that  ....  applicants  for  salt 
coming  from  Tennessee,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  and  other  parts  of  the  country 
were  regularly  ticketed,  and  could  be  supplied  only  by  awaiting  their  proper 
turn.  No  one  thought  of  stopping  for  the  drainage  of  the  salt  crystals,  but 
all  were  glad  to  receive  it  as  soon  as  it  was  cool  enough  to  handle  and  to 
start  off  with  their  pack  horses  loaded  with  sacks  of  salt  from  which  the 
water  trickled  as  they  journeyed  home.  The  fuel  required  to  evaporate  such 
an  immense  amount  of  water  stripped  the  country  of  timber  for  miles  around, 
and  the  expedient  was  resorted  to  of  conveying  the  brine  for  miles  in  wooden 
pipes  to  the  rapidly  receding  forests.  The  idea  never  once  occurred  to  those 
early  salt  makers  that  the  five-foot  bed  of  coal  through  which  their  wells 
were  generally  dug  could  furnish,  ready  at  hand,  a  never  failing  supply  of 
the  best  and  cheapest  fuel."1 

With  the  development  of  the  strong  brines  on  the  Kanawha  River  in 
West  Virginia,  beginning  about  1807  or  1808  and  with  the  discovery  of  rich 
brines  in  Pomeroy,  in  Ohio,  the  Saline  works  were  no  longer  able  to  run  with 
profit  and  the  industry  in  Illinois  died.  In  1850  it  was  revived  there  and 
brines  were  worked  contemporaneously  in  other  parts  of  the  State  as  at 
Brownsville,  Jackson  County,  at  Central  City,  Marion  County,  and  on  Salt 
and  Middle  Forks.  But  even  though  the  combined  production  from  these 
sources  surpassed  that  of  the  early  Gallatin  days,  the  industry  of  the  later 
years  could  in  no  measure  equal  that  of  the  pioneer  period  in  its  comparative 
importance   and   far-reaching  effects   on    settlement. 

Since  1896  no  production  of  salt  from  Illinois  has  been  recorded  and 
probably  none  will  be  produced  again. 

LEAD,   ZINC   AND    SILVER 

The  lead  and  zinc  industry,  too,  had  its  beginnings  prior  to  1818  (fig.  3), 
and  throve  during  those  early  days.  Like  the  salt  industry,  it  declined  and 
although  small  amounts  of  lead  and  zinc  still  come  from  northern  Illinois 
and,  as  a  by-product  of  the  fluorspar  mining  operations,  from  southern  Illi- 
nois, this  industry  is  now  of  comparatively  little  importance. 

NORTHERN    ILLINOIS 

The  date  of  the  earliest  utilization  of  the  lead  deposits  of  the  upper 
Mississippi  region  is  unknown,  but  from  the  evidence  of  crude  mining  tools 
found  in  abandoned  drifts  by  the  earliest  white  miners,  it  is  believed  that 
the  Indians  had  used  the  lead  even  prior  to  the  advent  of  the  French ;  and 
further,  Hennepin's  map,  dated  1687,  shows  native  mines  near  Galena.  Dur- 
ing the  entire  eighteenth  century  Indians  did  most  of  the  mining  and  sold  it 
to  traders.     "The  savages  would  load  the  ore  at  the  bottom  of  the  inclined 


lOp.  Cit.  pp.   214-215. 


MINERAL   RESOURCES  51 

shaft  into  deerskin  bags,  and  hoist  or  drag  it  to  the  surface  by  means  of  long 
thongs  of  hide.  The  lower  work  was  performed  almost  entirely  by  old  men 
and  squaws.  Large  logs  would  be  placed  on  the  ground  and  smaller  pieces 
of  wood  piled  around,  and  the  ore  heaped  on.  The  fire  would  be  set  in  the 
evening  and  in  the  morning  shapeless  pieces  of  lead  would  be  found."1  Later, 
smelting  methods  improved.  "A  hole  was  dug  in  the  face  of  a  piece  of  slop- 
ing ground  about  2  feet  deep,  and  as  wide  at  the  top.  This  hole  was  shaped 
like  a  mill  hopper  and  lined  with  flat  stones.  At  the  bottom  of  the  hopper 
which  was  18  inches  square,  narrow  stones  were  laid  across  grate  wise.  A 
trench  was  dug  from  the  sloping  ground  inward  to  the  bottom  of  the  hopper. 
.  .  .  .  The  hopper  was  filled  with  ore  and  fuel.  When  the  latter  was 
ignited  the  molten  lead  in  a  few  minutes  fell  through  the  stones  at  the  bottom 
of  the  hopper  and  thence  was  discharged  through  the  trench  over  the  earth. 
The  fluid  mass  was  then  poured  into  an  awkward  mold  and  as  it  cooled  was 
called  at  'plat,'  weighing  about  70  pounds,  very  nearly  the  weight  of  a  'pig' 
of  later  days."2 

Friction  over  trading  rights  between  the  French  and  Indians  on  the  one 
hand  and  the  English  and  later  the  Americans  on  the  other,  kept  the  lead 
region  in  continual  turmoil  during  the  eighteenth  and  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century  and  made  mining  anything  but  active  and  systematic.  In 
1816  however,  the  Indians  ceded  to  the  government  for  mining  an  area  fif- 
teen miles  square  on  Fever  River,  and  in  1823  Colonel  James  Johnson  began 
the  first  of  the  systematic  mining  when  he  brought  experienced  miners,  and 
150  slaves,  and  adequate  tools,  and  under  military  protection  undertook 
development  of  the  deposits  near  Galena  under  a  3-year  lease. 

At  once  prospectors  and  squatters  began  to  pour  into  the  region.  "Lieu- 
tenant Thomas  reported  the  number  of  American  miners  in  Fever  (Galena) 
River  diggings  in  July,  1825,  as  100,  and  in  December  as  151.  In  the  spring 
of  1826  the  number  in  the  vicinity  of  Galena  was  nearly  200.  This  increased 
to  400  by  June  and  to  550  in  the  fall.  In  four  years  this  sequestered  spot 
literally  swarmed  with  miners,  smelters,  merchants,  speculators,  and  gamblers 
of  every  description.  By  1827  the  workmen  in  the  mines  numbered  1,600 
and  in  1830  some  2,111  people  were  enumerated  in  Jo  Daviess  County  alone."3 

Production  figures  for  the  years  1823  to  1829  are  given,  followed  by 
statistics  by  ten-year  periods  through  1920. 


iSchockel,  Bernard  H..  History  of  development  of  Jo  Daviess  County:    111.  State  Geol. 
Survey  Bull.  26,  p.  179,  1916. 
2Ibid.,  p.  180. 
sibid.,   pp.   184-185. 


JBRAk 

AUG  0  5  1988 

ILL  STATE  GEOLOEICAI  W 


52  YEAR    HOOK   FOR    1917   AND    1918 

Table  7. — Lead  production  in  the  Fever  River  Mines,  1823  to  1829 

Tons 

1823    168 

1824    88 

1825    332 

1826    479 

1827    2,591 

1828    5,553 

1829  1 .  6,672 

Table  8. — Lead  production  of  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley  region, 
1821  to  1920,  by  decades 

Tons 

1821-30   23,244 

1831-40  55,718 

1841-50    215,979 

1851-60  161,334 

1861-70   84,700 

1871-80   49,000 

1881-90   10,000 

1891-00   10,000 

1901-10   25,088 

1911-20   40,278 

The  abrupt  decline  in  production  after  1850  is  attributed  to  several 
causes:     "(1)    The  richer  deposits  began   to  give  out.      (2)    By    1850  the 

shallower  diggings  were  largely  exhausted (3)  The  discovery  of 

gold  in  California  in  1848  diverted  from  Galena  the  flow  of  mining  immi- 
grants and  also  lured  to  California  many  miners  from  the  district.  (4) 
Many  of  the  younger  miners  sought  their  fortunes  [elsewhere]  .... 
(5)  The  reduction  of  the  import  duty  on  lead  ....  (6)  The  increasing 
abundance  ....  of  zinc  ore  as  mining  reached  greater  depths.  (7) 
The  great  demand  for  laborers  in  railroad  construction  and  other  internal 
improvements." 

With  the  decline  of  lead  production,  zinc  began  to  come  into  prominence 
because  of  the  development  of  satisfactory  smelters.  Between  1850  and  1870, 
three  large  smelters,  one  at  La  Salle,  a  second  at  Mineral  Point,  Wisconsin, 
and  a  third  at  Peru  were  built  to  smelt  Upper  Mississippi  Valley  zinc. 

The  mineral  deposits  of  the  Galena  region  had  great  local  and  at  times 
even  national  importance.     Some  of  the  effects  may  be  listed  as  follows : 

1.  Hastened  exploration. 

2.  Hastened  removal  of  Indians  and  more  rapid  development  of  region. 

3.  Hastened  development  of  St.  Louis,  New  Orleans,  and  Buffalo,  where  lead 
ore  was  shipped  and  manufactured ;  was  responsible  for  beginning  of 
Mineral  Point,  Dubuque,  Galena;  furthered  the  growth  of  La  Salle,  Peru, 
and  Mineral  Point. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  53 

4.  Made  contest  over  position  of  boundary  line  between  Wisconsin  and  Illi- 
nois more  intense. 

5.  Introduced  powder  and  bullets  to  Indians. 

6.  Introduced  slaves  to  the  State. 

7.  Influenced  establishment  of  the  early  stage  line  between  Galena  and  Chi- 
cago  (1829). 

8.  Influenced  the  building  of  the  Galena  and  Chicago  Union  Railroad,  1855. 

9.  Invigorated  steamboat  trade  on  the  Mississippi. 

SOUTHERN    ILLINOIS 

Lead,  associated  with  fluorspar  in  vein  formation,  was  discovered  in 
Hardin  County  in  1842  near  the  site  of  the  present  Rosiclare  mine  and 
development  of  the  deposit  was  undertaken.  From  that  time  until  1870  or 
thereabouts  this  and  similar  veins  in  that  district  were  mined  chiefly  for  their 
lead  content.  But  as  various  industries  began  to  demand  fluorspar  in  increas- 
ing amounts,  lead  production  became  a  side  issue  in  the  main  business  of 
fluorspar  mining.  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  spite  of  the  fact  that 
southern  Illinois  lead  is  at  present  but  a  by-product,  it  has  nevertheless 
amounted  to  46  per  cent  of  the  State's  total  tonnage  in  the  past  ten  years, 
northern  Illinois  reporting  54  per  cent. 

Whereas  the  lead  ores  of  northern  Illinois  are  associated  with  zinc  ore 
in  commercial  amount,  the  southern  Illinois  veins  contain  so  little  zinc  min- 
eral that  its  separation  has  not  been  considered  commercially  practicable. 
And  whereas  the  lead  ores  of  northern  Illinois  are  not  argentiferous,  those  of 
southern  Illinois  run  as  high  as  14  ounces  of  silver  to  the  ton  of  lead  con- 
centrates.    Statistics  of  silver  production  are  found  in  tables  4  and  9. 


54 


YEAR   BOOK    FOR   1917   AND   1918 


Table  9. — Production  and  value  of  lead,  zinc,  and  silver  in  Illinois  by  districts,  1909-1918 


Year 


District 


Lead 


Quantity 


Value 


Zinc 


Quantity 


Value 


Silver 


Quantity  Value 


Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois '. 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Short 

tons 

88 

207 

295 

101 

272 

373 

625 
339 

964 

687 
595 

1,282 

588 
371 

959     " 

492 

225 

$'    7,566 
17,804 

Short 
tons 
2,163 

$     223,604 

Fine 
ounces 

1909 

1,011 

$    526 

3,549 

383,292 

$  25,370 

8,888 
23,936 

$  32,824 

56,250 
30,510 

$  86,760 

61,830 
53.550 

1910 

2,022 

1,092 

4,219 

480,966 

1911 

3,036 

1,609 

4,065 

560,970 

1912 

4,731 

2,909 

2,236 

250,432 

$115,380 

51,744 
32,648 

1913 

3,541 

2,139 

4,811 

490,722 

$  84,392 

38,376 
17,550 

1914 

2,112 

1,168 

5,534 

1,372,432 

717 

495 
459 

954 

462 
610 

1,072 

594 

845 

1,439 

1,413 
860 

2,273 

$  55,392 

46,530 
43,146 

$  89,676 

63,756 
84,180 

1915 

3,864 

1,959 

3,404 

912,272 

1916 

5,684 

3,740 

4,267 

870,468 

$147,936 

102,168 
145,340 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

Northern  Illinois 

Southern  Illinois 

Total 

1917 

7,186 

5,921 

3,792 

690,144 

$247,508 

200,646 
122,120 

1918 

8,171 

8,171 

$322,766 

MINERAL  RESOURCES  55 

Table  10. — Tenor  of  lead  and  zinc  ore  and  concentrates  produced  in  Illinois,  1917  and  1918 


NORTHERN    ILLINOIS 

Total  crude  ore short  tons 

Total  concentrates  in  crude  ore: 

Lead Per  cent 

Zinc Per  cent 

Metal  content  of  crude  ore : 

Lead per  cent 

Zinc Per  cent 

Average  lead  content  of  galena  concentrates per  cent 

Average  zinc  content  of  sphalerite  concentrates ■ per  cent 

Average  value  per  ton: 

Galena  concentrates 

Sphalerite  concentrates 

SOUTHERN    ILLINOIS 

Average  lead  content  of  galena  concentrates per  cent 

Average  value  per  ton  of  galena  concentrates 


1917 


327,340 


1918 


280,900 


.24 

.66 

5.56 

4.67 

.18 

.50 

1.63 

1.60 

75.4 

75.5 

29.3 

35.7 

$99.83 

$87.09 

$26.18 

$28.72 

70.7 

70.0 

$99.10 

$83.52 

LIMESTONE 

The  stone  industry,  based  on  another  mineral  resource  used  prior  to 
1818,  has  persisted  to  the  present,  the  1918  production  having  a  value  of 
almost  three  million  dollars.  Large  though  this  figure  is,  the  increase  in  the 
past  quarter  of  a  century  is  surprisingly  small  when  compared  with  that  of 
other  minerals.  The  reasons  are  probably  that  Portland  cement  and  clay 
products,  such  as  brick  and  terra  cotta,  have  been  largely  substituted  for 
stone  in  construction  work ;  and  that  the  Bedford  limestone  quarries  of 
Indiana,  opened  during  the  nineties  and  very  favorably  situated  with  refer- 
ence to  the  Illinois  market,  supply  a  product  recognizedly  superior  to  Illi- 
nois limestones. 

Since  1890  clay  products  have  doubled  their  values,  and  cements  have 
increased  fifteen  times  over ;  and  as  much  of  this  production  has  been  sub- 
stituted for  stone  in  structural  work,  it  is  not  surprising  that  Illinois'  rank 
in  production  of  building  stone  is  now  only  fourteenth,  although  for  many 
years  prior  to  1896  the  State  ranked  first  in  the  country  for  marketed  pro- 
duction of  that  class  of  stone. 

The  general  absence  of  surface  limestone  over  the  broad  central  portion 
of  the  State  (due  to  the  geologic  structure  and  the  prevalence  of  glacial  drift 
deposits  there)  means  that  the  State  must  continue  to  look  chiefly  to  border 
counties  for  structural  limestone  and  for  road  metal.  The  latter  is  of 
increasingly  vital  importance  to  the  prairie  population  since  the  advent  and 
rapid  increase  in  the  use  of  automobiles  has  forced  the  construction  of 
good  roads. 


56 


YEAR   1500K   FOR    1917  AND   1918 


10 


*  CO 

MILLIONS 


OF 


CM 
DOLLARS 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  57 

Table  11. — Relative  importance  of  the  limestone  production  districts, 

1917  and  1918 

Districts                                                                       1917  1918 

Chicago     $2,427,385  $2,134,718 

Mississippi  River  460,482  522,482 

East   central    228,784  203,140 

Northern    110,833  40,630 

Southern .        52,253  50,075 

Total    $3,279,737  $2,951,045 

For  the  past  fifty  years,  the  few  available  statistics  indicate  that  the 
Chicago  district,  comprising  Cook,  Will,  and  Kankakee  counties,  has  led  all 
others,  and  that  the  Mississippi  River  district  has  consistently  held  second 
place. 

Each  of  these  districts  has  limestone  deposits  in  plenty  and  of  good 
quality  for  construction  purposes  ;  and  each  has  adequate  and  cheap  trans- 
portation both  by  rail  and  by  water,  the  Mississippi  for  the  latter  district 
and  the  Drainage  Canal  for  the  former.  The  reason  for  the  marked  su- 
premacy of  the  Chicago  district  is  to  be  found  not  in  advantages  of  this  sort 
but  rather  in  the  greater  demand,  resulting  from  the  much  greater  concentra- 
tion of  population  in  the  Chicago  area. 

In  the  earlier  half  of  the  century,  however,  the  relative  importance  of 
the  two  districts  was  just  the  reverse,  because  the  spread  of  population  was 
guided  by  the  Mississippi  River,  and  the  population  and  demand  were 
greater  in  that  part  of  the  State. 

Although  the  distribution  of  the  limestone  industry  and  the  relative  im- 
portance of  the  districts  has  been  comparatively  stable  since  the  Chicago 
area  came  into  supremacy,  the  uses  of  the  product  have  changed  remark- 
ably (fig.  4).  For  example,  whereas  in  1890  approximately  half  of  the  total 
stone  production  was  building  stone,  in  1917  almost  the  same  proportion 
was  sold  for  concrete  and  more  than  half  as  much  again  for  road  making 
and  as  railroad  ballast.  Due  to  the  change  of  construction  material,  thus 
indicated,  Illinois  has  fallen  in  production  of  building  stone  from  first  to 
last  place,  and  from  more  than  a  million  dollars  to  about  ten  thousand,  dur- 
ing a  period  when  in  every  other  use  there  has  been  a  marked  increase. 

Of  recent  years  a  very  large  percentage  of  the  stone  produced  in  Illi- 
nois has  been  sold  as  crushed  stone  for  concrete,  road  metal,  and  railroad 
ballast.  In  1917,  for  example,  75  per  cent  went  for  these  purposes  and  in 
1918,  65  per  cent.  Although  47  States  reported  production  of  crushed 
stone  in  1917,  Illinois  led  them  all.  In  1918,  however,  Ohio  and  New  York 
regained  first  and  second  place,  with  Illinois  in  third  rank.  All  three  states 
reported  decreased  production  of  crushed  stone  in  1918,  but  Illinois'  decrease 
amounted  to  38  per  cent,  whereas  New  York's  and  Ohio's  were  only  34 
per  cent  and  4  per  cent  respectively.  The  country-wide  falling  off  of 
crushed   stone  production,   averaging  27  per  cent,   was  due   largely   to   the 


58 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR    1917  AND   191! 


discontinuance  of  practically  all  road  construction  in  1917  and  1918  except 
that  necessary  for  repairs  of  roads  on  the  main  line  of  transportation  and 
the  building  of  new  roads  for  war  purposes.  The  signing  of  the  armistice 
came  so  late  in  1918  that  there  was  time  for  little  more  than  plans  for 
resumption  of  repair  and  new  work,  and  the  expected  reaction  of  these  plans 
in  increasing  stone  production  was  not  noticeable  in  1918. 

In  Table  12  will  be  found  statistics  of  prices  of  crushed  stone  since  1905. 


Table  12. — 

Average  price  per  short  ton  of  crushed  stone  in  Illinois  and  the 
United  States,  1905-1918 

Year 

Road 
metal 

Railroad 
ballast 

Concrete 

Total 

Illinois 

U.  S. 

Illinois 

U.  S. 

Illinois 

U.  S. 

Illinois 

U.S. 

1905 

1910 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

$0.67 
.56 
.63 
.57 
.91 
.89 
.48 
.41 
.47 
.49 
.46 
.44 
.58 
.65 

$0.64 
.64 
.66 
.62 
.67 
.62 
.62 
.60 
.63 
.61 
.60 
.63 
.75 
.97 

$0.45 
.53 
.63 
.50 
.40 
.48 
.38 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.42 
.40 
.46 
.64 

$0.48 
.49 
.52 
.52 
.48 
.48 
.50 
.49 
.51 
.51 
.50 
.49 
.56 
.77 

$0.64 
.65 

.75 
.49 
.52 
.46 
.52 
.47 
.61 
.49 
.49 
.48 
.57 
.72 

$0.67 
.65 
.71 
.65 
.64 
.64 
.65 
.67 
.67 
.68 
.65 
.67 
.78 
1.05 

$0.57 
.58 
.66 
.52 
.60 
.55 
.50 
.43 
.48 
.47 
.47 
.45 
.55 
.68 

$0.59 
.59 
.63 
.61 
.61 
.59 
.59 
.59 
.61 
.61 
.60 
.61 
.72 
.95 

As  would  be  expected  the  average  prices  for  Illinois  vary  more  than 
do  those  for  the  United  States  as  a  whole.  Perhaps  the  most  significant 
generalization  that  can  be  made  about  the  table  is  that  from  1905  to  1910 
State  prices  tend  to  be  equal  to  or  higher  than  average  country-wide  prices, 
whereas  from  1911  on  the  tendency  is  decidedly  for  lower  prices  in  Illinois. 
The  increases  in  1917  and  1918  were  general  over  the  whole  United  States, 
as  a  result  of  increased  supply  and  labor  costs. 


LIME 

Probably  almost  as  old  as  the  limestone  industry  is  that  of  lime  burning. 
The  superior  quality  of  the  limestone  in  the  vicinity  of  Alton,  the  favorable 
geographic  location  of  that  city  with  reference  to  centers  of  population  in 
the  early  days,  the  cheap  river  transportation,  and  the  abundance  of  fuel, 
both  wood  and  coal,  combined  to  make  the  Alton  district  leader  for  many 
years.  An  old  report1  describes  the  beginnings  and  growth  of  the  industry 
in  a  quotation  from  the  Alton  Courier  of  November  28,  1857. 


iWorthen,   A.   H.,  Geology  of  Madison  County  :     Geological   Survey  of  Illinois,  Vol.   I, 
p.  324,  1866. 


MINERAL   RESOURCES 


59 


''The  first  lime  made  in  the  city  [Alton],  of  which  we  have  any  record, 
was  manufactured  in  Hunterstown  in  the  year  1815,  by  Colonel  Jacob  Judy. 
The  manner  of  its  manufacture  was  in  keeping  with  the  primitive  style  of 
those  early  times.  It  was  simply  this :  Large  log  heaps  were  made,  and 
the  rock  being  placed  upon  them,  they  were  fired,  and  as  the  logs  burned  to 
ashes,  the  rock  was  transformed  into  lime.  Lime  continued  to  be  made  in 
this  way  as  occasion  and  necessity  demanded,  until  1818,  when  it  was  manu- 
factured in  kilns.  The  first  kiln  was  erected  in  Hunterstown  by  Major  C. 
W.  Hunter,  who  leased  it  to  the  Honorable  George  Smith  and  Thomas  G. 
Hawley,  now  of  Upper  Alton.  These  gentlemen  manufactured  lime  to  a 
considerable  extent,  which  they  were  under  bonds  to  sell  at  not  more  than 
25  cents  per  bushel     .     .     . 

"The  manufacture  of  lime  continued  to  be  carried  on  with  more  or 
less  activity  until  1847.  In  this  year  the  barreling  and  exportation  of  lime 
was  commenced  and  from  that  day  to  this  the  business  has  prospered  and 
grown,  and  is  yet  increasing  day  by  day.  Its  present  extent  can  perhaps 
be  judged  of  by  a  few  facts  and  statistics. 

"Since  the  first  of  March  last  [1857],  there  has  been  manufactured 
121,900  barrels,  of  which  48,400  barrels  have  been  shipped  by  railroad  in 
bulk.  The  balance,  73,500  barrels,  has  been  shipped  and  sold  in  barrels, 
thus  affording  a  large  demand  for  cooperage  work.  There  are  twenty  kilns 
now  in  operation  of  which  five  are  patents.  These  kilns  give  employment 
in  various  ways  to  not  less  than  four  hundred  men,  aside  from  the  cooperage 
required  by  them." 

By  the  seventies  the  center  of  population,  and  therefore  the  principal 
market,  was  shifting  northeast,  and  the  Alton  district  lost  its  leadership. 
However,  once  the  early  abnormally  rapid  growth  of  the  northeastern  coun- 
ties was  over,  the  Mississippi  district  was  reinstated  as  leader  and  continues 
to  remain  so.  In  the  Union  Illinois  ranks  low  in  lime  production,  fifteenth  in 
1918. 

Table  13 — Lime  burned  in  Illinois,  1904-1918 


Year 

Number  of 
plants 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price 
per  ton 

1904 

Short  tons 

108,881 

98,907 

121,546 

124,784 

92,549 

104,260 

113,239 

92,169 

98,450 

95,977 

87,603 

88,604 

80,012 

83,409 

64,672 

$461,068 
421,589 
534,118 
559,305 
393,951 
454,682 
503,581 
423,762 
394,892 
433,331 
362,727 
352,954 
369,038 
501,320 
535,090 

$4.23 

1905 

4.26 

1906 

4.39 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

22 
18 
17 
14 
16 
15 
16 
16 
14 
12 
11 
11 

4.48. 

4.26 

4.36 

4.45 

4.60 

4.01 

4.51 

4.14 

1915 

1916 

3.98 
4.61 

1917 

6.00 

1918 

8.27 

60  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

COAL 

The  story  of  coal,  the  last  of  the  pre-1818  resources,  mirrors  the  cor- 
relative development  along  other  lines,  and  therefore  might  well  receive 
more  consideration  than  is  possible  in  this  chapter,  especially  as  it  is  the 
most  valuable  mineral  product  in  the  State.  In  1918,  Illinois'  89,291,105 
tons,  valued  at  $206,860,291,  were  produced  from  967  mines.  Of  these, 
370  mined  and  shipped  ninety-eight  per  cent  of  all  the  coal  away  from  the 
vicinity  of  the  producing  mines  while  597  more  mined  two  per  cent  of  the 
total  production  for  local  use.  In  1918  these  many  mines  were  places  ot 
employment  for  91,372  men,  each  of  whom  was  responsible,  on  an  average, 
for  bringing  to  the  surface  almost  1,000  tons  of  coal  during  the  year.  In 
1913,  the  last  year  unaffected  by  the  European  war,  Illinois  had  to  its  credit 
five  per  cent  of  the  world's  coal  production  and  was  surpassed  by  but  three 
countries  in  the  world,  one  of  them  of  course  the  United  States  itself. 

The  history  of  the  growth  of  the  coal  industry  is  divisible  into  the 
exploration,  ante-railroad,  and  railroad  periods. 

EARLY    EXPLORATION 

The  date,  1673,  which  is  that  of  the  beginning  of  the  history  of  Illi- 
nois coal,  is  the  date  of  its  discovery  not  only  for  this  State  but  for  the 
United  States  as  well.  In  Margry's  account  of  Joliet's  voyage  is  found  the 
earliest  known  mention:1  "The  said  M.  Joliet  adds,  that  he  had  set  down 
in  his  Journal  an  exact  Description  of  the  Iron-Mines  they  discovered,  as 
also  of  the  Quarries  of  Marble,  and  Cole-Pits  and  Places  where  they  find 
Salt-Petre  with  several  other  things."  One  Joliet's  map  of  16742  is  entered 
"Charbon  de  terre"  (coal)  near  the  present  city  of  Utica ;  on  Marquette's 
map3  of  1681  this  same  "Charbon  de  terre"  appeared;  and  Hennepin's  map 
of  1689  located  a  "cole  mine"  on  the  Illinois  above  Fort  Creve-Coeur 
(Peoria). 

ANTE-RAILROAD   PERIOD 

The  end  of  the  early  exploration  period  and  the  beginning  of  the  ante- 
railroad  period,  may  be  taken  as  1810,  which  is  the  year  marked  by  the  first 
record  of  shipment  of  coal  in  Illinois.  Beck  in  "A  Gazetteer  of  the  States  of 
Illinois  and  Missouri,  1823,"  after  describing  the  American  Bottom  where 
the  first  settlement  of  this  State  was  begun,  says  "  'Coal  exists  in  abundance 
on  this  alluvion  and  the  bluffs  which  bound  it.  Its  first  discovery  was  made 
in  a  very  singular  manner.  Many  years  since,  a  tree,  taking  fire,  com- 
municated to  its  roots,  which  continued  burning  for  sometime.  Upon  exami- 
nation they  were  found  to  communicate  with  a  bed  of  coal,  which  continued 
to  burn  until  the  fire  was  completely  smothered  by  the  falling  in  of  a  large 
mass  of  incumbent  earth.     The  appearance  of  fire  is  still  evident  for  a  con- 


iMargry,  Vol.  I,  p.  465. 

SThwaites,  Jesuit  Relations,  Vol.   19,  p.  86. 
SThevenot,  Recueil  de  Voyages. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  61 

siderable  distance.  About  two  miles  from  this  place  a  coal  bank  has  been 
opened — the  vein  is  as  thick  as  any  at  Pittsburgh.' 

"It  was  at  [this]  point  ....  that  the  first  mine  was  opened  and  we 
have  a  record  of  the  shipment  of  a  flatboat  load  of  coal  to  New  Orleans  in 
1810  from  Brownsville  [fig.  3]   in  Jackson  County."1 

Gazetteers  of  the  period  and  journals  of  travelers  give  abundant  evidence 
of  the  general  recognition  of  the  presence  of  coal  in  many  parts  of  Illinois.2 
Just  as  all  such  references  are  to  outcrops  of  coal  along  stream  courses,  so 
mines  were  located  along  the  major  streams.  The  list  of  the  producing  coun- 
ties in  1840  shows  only  one  that  is  not  bordered  by  or  does  not  include  the 
Misssissippi,  the  Illinois,  or  the  Wabash  rivers,  or  their  larger  tributaries. 

Coal  production  in  1840% 

County                                                                                     Men  Bushels 

Adams    5  2,700 

Edwards    1  2,000 

Gallatin    2  1,500 

Henry  2  2,250 

Jackson    21  15,000 

Lawrence     6  1,650 

Madison     25  97,250 

Marshall    3  4,000 

Morgan    3  2,000 

Peoria 8  12,000 

Perry    1  1,500 

Randolph  11  6,011 

Sangamon    10  82,000 

Schuyler    5  5,230 

Scott     18  52,200 

Shelby    2  2,700 

St.   Clair    24  129,396 

Vermilion    2,800 

Warren    2,800 

The  control  of  streams  over  the  distribution  of  coal-mining  operations 
had  three  phases.  In  the  first  place  production  began  earliest  along  streams 
because  there  the  stream's  action  had  exposed  it.  It  was  only  after  deep 
drilling  that  coal  was  discovered  away  from  outcrops  along  streams,  and 
during  the  ante-railroad  period  enough  coal  could  be  found  in  the  valleys 
so  as  to  render  the  expense  of  exploration  with  the  drill  unnecessary  and 
indeed  almost  unthought  of.  It  is  no  wonder  that  the  idea  arose  that  Illinois 
coal  lay  "principally  in  the  ravines  and  points  of  bluffs,"  as  was  written  in 
Hunt's  Merchants  Magazine  for  1841. 4 


lAndros,  S.  O.,  Coal  Mining  in  Illinois,  111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations,  Bull.  13,  pp. 
13-14,   1915. 

2The  reader  will  find  a  collection  of  references  and  quotations  on  which  this  statement 
is  based  in  "Coal  Mining  in  Illinois"  on  pages  14  to  34  previously  referred  to. 

3TJ.  S.  Census  Report,   1840. 

4Andros,  S.  O.,  Coal  Mining  in  Illinois,  111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations,  Bull.  13,  p.  33, 
1915. 


52  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

In  the  second  place,  stream  valleys  guided  the  early  settlers  and  there 
population  was  centered. 

And  in  the  third  place  the  streams  afforded  means  of  transportation. 
To  transport  a  bulky  commodity  like  coal  economically  over  any  great  dis- 
tance was  well-nigh  impossible  except  by  water  until  the  railroad  era,  and 
during  all  the  ante-railroad  period,  shipping  mines  and  their  markets  were 
confined  to  the  vicinity  of  streams.  It  was  in  response  to  the  demands  of 
the  coal  industry  that  some  of  the  first  improvements  along  transportation 
lines  were  made.  For  example,  the  first  macadamized  road  in  the  State, 
almost  fourteen  miles  long,  was  built  between  Belleville  and  St.  Louis,  prob- 
ably because  of  the  demand  for  coal  in  St.  Louis  and  difficulties  of  transpor- 
tation of  the  product  to  that  market  over  the  floodplain  swamps ;  and  the  first 
railroad  in  the  Mississippi  valley,  the  Coal  Mine  Bluffs  Railroad  by  name, 
built  in  1837  by  Governor  Reynolds  between  St.  Louis  and  a  coal  mine  on 
the  Mississippi  bluff,  was  for  the  explicit  purpose  of  serving  the  industry. 
"Governor  Reynolds  says,  T  had  a  large  tract  of  land  located  on  the  Missis- 
sippi Bluff,  six  miles  from  St.  Louis,  which  contained  in  it  inexhaustible 
quantities  of  bituminous  coal.  This  coal  mine  was  the  nearest  to  St.  Louis, 
Misssouri,  of  any  other  on  this  side  of  the  Mississippi  River.  I  had  also 
most  of  the  land  on  which  a  railroad  might  be  constructed  to  convey  the  coal 
into  market.  Under  these  circumstances,  a  few  others  with  myself,  decided 
to  construct  a  railroad  from  the  bluff  to  the  Mississippi,  opposite  St.  Louis. 
This  road  was  about  six  miles  long,  and  although  short,  the  engineer  made 
an  erroneous  calculation  of  the  cost — making  the  estimate  less  than  one-half 
of  the  real  cost.  We  all  embarked  in  this  enterprise  when  we  knew  very 
little  about  the  construction  of  a  railroad,  or  the  capacity  of  the  market  for 
the  use  of  the  coal.  In  fact,  the  company  had  nothing  but  an  excessive 
amount  of  energy  and  vigor,  together  with  some  wealth  and  standing,  with 
which  to  construct  the  road  ;  and  we  accomplished  it.  We  were  forced  to 
bridge  a  lake  over  2,000  feet  across,  and  we  drove  down  piles  more  than 
eighty  feet  into  the  mud  and  water  of  the  lake,  on  which  to  erect  the  bridge. 
We  put  three  piles  on  the  top  of  one  another,  fastened  the  ends  together, 
battering  the  piles  down  with  a  metal  battering-ram  of  1,400  pounds  weight. 
The  members  of  the  company  themselves  hired  the  hands — at  times  one 
hundred  a  day — and  overlooked  the  work.  They  built  shanties  to  board  the 
hands  in,  and  procured  provision^  and  lodgings  for  them.  They  graded  the 
track,  cut  and  hauled  timber,  piled  the  lake,  built  the  road,  and  had  it  running 
in  one  season  of  the  year  1837.  This  work  was  performed  in  opposition  to 
much  clamor  against  it,  that  it  would  not  succeed,  that  we  would  break  at  it, 
and  such  predictions.  We  had  not  the  means  nor  the  time  in  one  year  to 
procure  the  iron  for  the  rails,  or  the  locomotive,  so  we  were  compelled  to 
work  the  road  without  iron,  and  with  horsepower.  We  did  so,  and  delivered 
much  coal  to  the  river.     It  was  strange  how  it  was  possible  we  could  con- 


MINERAL   RESOURCES  63 

struct  the  road  under  these  circumstances.  It  was  the  first  railroad  built  in 
the  Mississippi  valley,  and  such  an  improvement  was  new  to  every  one,  as 
well  as  to  our  company.  The  members  of  the  company  and  I — one  of  them 
— lay  out  on  the  premises  of  the  road  day  and  night  while  the  work  was 
progressing ;  and  I  assert  that  it  was  the  greatest  work  or  enterprise  ever  per- 
formed in  Illinois  under  the  circumstances.     But  it  well-nigh  broke  us  all/  m 

THE    RAILROAD    PERIOD 

Although  the  first  railroad  was  built  in  1837,  the  railroad  period  is  not 
considered  as  beginning  until  1850,  which  is  the  year  when  railroad  mileage 
began  to  increase  rapidly  (fig.  5).  Perhaps  an  even  later  date  might  well 
be  taken  for  it  was  not  until  after  1850  that  locomotives  first  began  to  use 
coal  instead  of  wood  as  fuel.  "Until  1854,  coal  was  hauled  by  wood-burning 
locomotives  and  the  greatest  impetus  given  to  expansion  of  the  coal  industry 
after  the  construction  of  railroads  was  the  purchase  by  the  Galena  and  Chi- 
cago Union  Railroad  in  that  year  of  five  locomotives  'guaranteed  to  burn 
bituminous  coal  mined  in  Illinois/  "2 

All  through  the  Civil  War  period  of  the  State's  history  and  the  follow- 
ing period  of  industrial  growth  (1848-1893),  it  was  essentially  a  case  of 
development  of  mines  where  railroads  were  built,  but  after  that  time,  as  the 
graph  (fig.  5)  clearly  shows,  railroads  were  no  longer  the  dominant  factor 
in  the  situation ;  from  that  time  on  the  rate  of  increase  of  main-track  mileage 
decreased  from  year  to  year,  while  that  of  coal  tonnage  increased  by  leaps 
and  bounds. 

An  additional  basic  factor  in  the  great  increase  in  coal  production  in  the 
latter  half  of  the  railroad  period  was  the  impetus  given  to  steel  production 
by  the  establishment  in  1870  of  the  Bessemer  process  of  steel  manufacture. 
Though  the  chemical  quality  of  Illinois  coal  does  not  permit  its  use  as  blast 
furnace  fuel,  the  iron  and  steel  industry  has  played  a  leading  part  in  the  huge 
increase  of  coal  production  in  the  past  twenty-live  years,  for  coal  enters  into 
almost  every  phase  of  manufacture  and  industry  that  depends  for  existence 
on  steel,  which  means  that,  to  a  large  degree,  the  coal  industry  grows  in 
proportion  to  the  growth  of  aggregate  manufactures  and  is  conditioned  by 
the  steel  industry. 

The  great  increase  of  population,  the  enormous  growth  of  manufactures, 
the  improvements  in  transportation  facilities,  the  increase  in  wealth,  and  even 
the  rise  in  standards  of  living,  are  all  so  dependent  upon  the  iron  and  steel 
industry  that  the  abundance  of  iron  is  commonly  taken  as  a  measure  of 
national  wealth.  But,  as  J.  Russell  Smith  says :  "Coal  is  the  twin  of  iron 
in  the  production  of  the  new  world  commerce,  because  this  commerce  is 
carried  in  vehicles  made  chiefly  of  iron,  driven  by  power  derived  from  coal. 


iFrom  a   History  of  St.   Clair   County   by   MacDonough   as  quoted   in   Coal   Mining  in 
Illinois,  Illinois  Coal  Mining  Investigations.   Bull.   13,  pp.   21-22,    1915. 
2Ibid.,  p.  28. 


54  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Coal  also  furnishes  heat  for  the  reduction  of  iron,  and  power  for  driving  the 
machinery  employed  in  its  manufacture."1  And  so  the  abundance  of  coal 
must  be  regarded  as  a  second  measure  of  the  wealth  of  a  people,  coordinate 
with  iron.  Indeed,  though  the  two  are  interdependent  in  the  present  scheme 
of  industrial  economy  and  therefore  are  of  equal  importance,  coal  is  per- 
haps even  better  entitled  to  be  the  final  measure  of  wealth  in  any  area :  wit- 
ness the  manufacture  of  Lake  Superior  iron  ores  in  distant  eastern  coal  field 
centers  like  Pittsburgh,  and  the  smelting  of  Missouri  lead  and  zinc  in  cities 
of  the  Illinois  coal  fields. 

The  iron  and  coal  industries  of  today  have  many  points  of  similarity : 
both  are  developed  only  where  manufacturing  is  well  advanced,  both  require 
good  transportation  facilities,  and  both  are  fundamental  to  good  transporta- 
tion. Both  require  many  laborers  and  large  markets  such  as  only  concen- 
trated population  can  give,  and  both  may  be  regarded  as  industrial  barometers. 
As  true  for  coal  as  for  iron  is  Smith's  statement  that  "it  very  distinctly  is 
not  a  frontier  industry."2  Thus  there  is  to  be  read  from  the  rising  curve  of 
coal  production  (fig.  5)  not  only  the  rise  of  coal  mining  itself  but,  more 
important,  the  advance  of  Illinois  from  the  frontier  stage  of  fifty  years  ago 
to  its  present  high  rank  in  modern  industrial  civilization. 

There  has  been  little  change  in  the  number  of  coal  producing  counties 
for  thirty-five  years  or  more,  but  the  counties  have  not  maintained  a  corre- 
sponding constancy  of   rank  in  coal  production. 

Five  counties — St.  Clair,  Sangamon,  Madison,  Macoupin,  and  Vermilion 
— appear  among  the  ten  leading  counties  every  year  since  1880,  their  con- 
tinued prominence  resulting  from  great  abundance  and  a  sufficiently  good 
quality  to  enable  them  to  hold  their  positions  year  after  year.  Comparing 
the  years  1880  and  1918,  the  other  five  are  in  no  instance  identical,  La  Salle, 
Will,  Fulton,  Peoria,  and  Rock  Island  counties  completing  the  list  of  ten 
for  1880,  and  Franklin,  Williamson,  Saline,  Montgomery,  and  Christian 
counties  completing  that  for  1918.  Those  of  the  1880  list  are  all  Illinois 
or  Mississippi  river  counties  and  owe  their  early  start  and  prominence  as 
much  to  their  location,  which  is  favorable  to  transportation,  as  to  the  abund- 
ance or  good  quality  of  their  coal.  Conversely,  the  fact  that  none  of  the  five 
new  counties  of  the  1918  list  is  on  an  important  river  shows  the  modern 
release  of  coal  production  from  the  early  restrictions  imposed  upon  it  by 
lack  of  railroads;  it  also  gives  evidence  of  the  new  scientific  methods  of 
search,  such  as  efficient  methods  of  test  drilling,  mine  planning,  and  manag- 
ing under  the  supervision  of  geologists  and  engineers  as  contrasted  with  the 
early  practice  of  drifting  into  a  valley  bluff  wherever  an  outcrop  presented 
itself.  The  rise  of  Franklin  and  Williamson  counties  to  first  and  second 
place,  respectively,  in  1918,  from  no  production  at  all  in  1900  for  the  former 


iSmith.  Commerce  and  Industry,  p.  139. 
-'Ibid.,  p.   146. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Coal-millions  of  tons   (short) 


65 


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1 

i 

3 

J 

< 

i 

5 

8 

a 

§ 

00 

00 
00 

co 

s 

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8 

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1 

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\ 

cq 

\ 

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I 

\ 

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\ 

\ 

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00 

\ 

V 

g 

K 

\ 

\ 

i 

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v 

s 

V 

\* 

v 

0D 

I 

s^ 

1 

s 

^ 

% 

> 

\ 

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/--* 

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X 

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3 

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/ 

— 

V 

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( 

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» 

Railroads-thousands  of  miles 

Fig.  5.     Increase  in  main  track  railroad  mileage  and  quantity  of  coal  produced  in 

Illinois,   1833-1918. 


66 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

Table  14. — Production  of  coal  in  Illinois, 


County 


Bond 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Christian.  .  .  . 

Clinton 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy 

Hamilton. . .  . 
Hancock 

Henry 

Jackson 

Jefferson .  .  .  . 

Jersey 

Kankakee .  .  . 

Knox 

La  Salle 

Livingston. . . 

Logan 

McDonough . 

McLean 

Macon 

Macoupin  .  .  . 
Madison 

Marion 

Marshall .  .  .  . 

Menard 

Mercer 

Montgomery 

Morgan 

Moultrie .  .  .  . 

Peoria 

Perry 

Putnam 

Randolph  .  .  . 
Rock  Island . 

St.  Clair 

Saline 

Sangamon .  .  . 
Schuyler.  .  .  . 

Scott 

Shelby 

Stark 

Tazewell .  .  .  . 
Vermilion. .  . 

Warren 

Washington. 

White 

Will 

Williamson.  . 
Woodford  .  .  . 
Small  mines . 


Total 

Total  value. . 


1905 


126 
1,701. 

4, 
879 
579 


1,529 

82 

4. 

1,310 


3 
146 
818 

25 


58 

1,772 

284 

445 

19 

159 

231 

3,177 

3,434 

1,009 

499 

415 

532 

598 

4 


700 
972 
988 
984 
546 
496 
921 
235 
484 
399 
7  5') 
672 
266 
854 
064 
565 


897 
1,298 


440 

68 

3,329 

675 

4,324 

2 

13 

104 

22 

231 

2,342 

10 

85 


991 
383 
914 

701 
263 
880 
423 
216 
.725 
373 
238 
354 
913 


137 

4,167 

a348 

69 


38,434,363 
$40,577,592 


1906 


132,325 

1,580,085 

5,045 

934,452 

515,796 


1,579,224 

92,731 

2,206 

1,162,019 


4,498 

149,188 

646,196 

7,600 

1,397 

39,499 

51,654 

1.467  672 

273,831 

435,559 

43,774 

145,000 

292,884 

3,637,827 

3,324,857 

1.04  2,  866 

418,904 

429,971 

412,165 

720,415 

9,100 


914,863 

1,509,716 

156928 

634,270 

62,321 

4,904,811 

980,864 

4,543,849 

3,090 

12  437 

138,257 

17,661 

189,882 

2,389,285 

9,520 

85,812 

8.000 

154,955 

4,417,987 

al  17,566 

69,299 


41,480,104 
$44,763,062 


1907 


138,990 
2,010,762 

2,850 
1,368,159 
1,302,391 
1,306,966 
2,113,643 
78,055 

2,310 
1,327,321 


2,034 

149,721 

645,333 

12,000 

1,162 

26,704 

40,996 

1.677,990 

303,497 

477,115 

32,199 

151,146 

269,766 

4,507,270 

3,927,721 

1,185,533 

482,796 

389,918 

453,621 

1,289,021 

5,513 


1,103,312 

1,784,469 

362,858 

824,761 

52,938 

4,511,879 

2,247,842 

5,160,042 

7,553 

17,639 

155,930 

25,897 

235,971 

2,973,253 

9,139 

29,000 

16,453 

183,985 

5,697,944 

6158,742 

75.036 


51,317,146 

$54,687,382 


1908 


60,129 

1,512,971 

3,521 

1,377,166 

1,078,848 

2,187,383 

2,012,415 

59,667 

9,506 

1,081,442 

(c) 

1,406 

141,624 

624,055 

18,675 

1 ,496 

30,994 

41,040 

1,557,173 

265,666 

372,980 

17,818 

95,854 

235,237 

3,894,199 

3,367,820 

981,284 

393,281 

355,309 

376,435 

1,410,978 

3,244 

(d) 

921,929 

1,576,891 

466,019 

751,605 

50,781 

3,696,017 

2,552,137 

5,015,608 

15,269 

3,427 

181,373 

20,351 

206,882 

2,452,485 

11,687 

72,500 

19,583 

162,239 

5,670,474 

<?174,031 

68,786 


47,659,690 
$49,978,247 


89,861 
1,612,452 


1,395,158 

970,709 

2,316,509 

2,388,617 

64,713 

7,318 

1,114,101 


1,085 

137,060 

652,280 

4,800 

1,000 

25,000 

21,973 

1,686,391 

246,031 

395,888 

16,276 

116,412 

238,607 

4,597,775 

3,373,798 

1,171,950 

295,812 

303,948 

369,762 

1,780,668 

1,200 

(/) 

914,961 

1,423,135 

597,703 

799,893 

46,228 

3,471,630 

3,283,939 

5,616,357 

4,573 

2,056 

124,087 

23,159 

208,049 

1,919,955 

12,304 

31,322 

22,133 

162,307 

6,537,654 

194,410 

£111,981 


50,904,990 
$53,522,014 


1910 


139,398 
973,346 


1,223,295 

950,243 

1,778,768 

1,721,527 

70,091 

9,082 

600,281 


640 

124,243 

584.240 

10,000 


28,295 

1,178,885 

162,898 

409,244 

26,338 

83,982 

235,361 

3,854,229 

4,102,773 

812,873 

267,447 

332,557 

229,024 

1,799,720 

1,300 


810,595 

1,367,771 

364,882 

1,025,557 

66,207 

5,788,567 

2,459,650 

4,449,634 

2,427 

2,400 

135,672 

32,582 

155,659 

2,515,250 

10,275 

22,500 

23,722 

124,652 

4.620,372 

125,823 

85,969 


45,900,246 
$52,405,897 


1911 


119,258 

1,628,680 

1,400 

1,222.259 

921,225 

3,555,586 

2,133,029 

63,008 

6,207 

776.800 


230 

90,722 

687,753 

9,500 


30,136 

1,610,470 

89,423 

334,860 

8,027 

96,517 

236,203 

4,688,212 

3,152,705 

1,224,326 

423,984 

190,477 

297,552 

2,395,814 

1,268 


1,037,362 

1,272,292 

772,976 

777,746 

65,983 

3,931,479 

3,820,410 

5,137,835 

6,138 

464 

81,615 

37,293 

220,783 

3,385,200 

9,044 

25,000 

35,681 

178,397 

6,614,029 

164,001 

109,759 


53,679,118 
$59,519,478 


a  Includes  production  of  Franklin  County. 

6  Includes  production  of  Wabash  County. 

c  Included  with  production  of  Hancock  County. 

d  Included  with  production  of  Woodford  County. 

e  Includes  production  of  Edgar  and  Moultrie  counties. 

/  Included  with  production  of  small  mines. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 
by  counties,  in  short  tons,  1905-1918 


67 


1912 


232,571 

1,677,317 

1,156 

1,467,846 

1,040,479 

4,442,284 

2,453,424 

64,244 

7,841 

540,787 


58,613 

703,190 

21,032 


1913 


223, 786 
1,639,208 


1,504,716 

1,049,575 

6,072,102 

2,388,775 

46,105 

5,009 

401,527 


43,383 

723,863 

35,000 


1914 


123,730 
1,284,311 


1,486,053 

1,090,787 

7,311.209 

2,052,170 

81,735 

6,665 

388,368 


1,678 

47,010 

601,697 

9,051 


27,659 
1,202,698 


2,135,052 

1,315,648 

8,027,773 

1,849,906 

77,380 

5,764 

293,660 


1,285 

46,219 

682,042 

8  900 


1916 


86,805 
1,340,018 


2,516,336 

1,307,712 

9,388,292 

2,109:950 

66,933 

2,963 

324,794 


2,656 

44,502 

772,788 


1917 


1,363,362 


3,133,360 

1,464,722 

11,455,238 

2,820,495 

73,489 

(d) 

418,033 


(d) 

50,032 
807,160 


1918 


(d) 
1,181,197 


3,340,377 

1,533,702 

12,373,356 

2,552,105 

226,544 

(d) 
317,801 


(d) 

41,332 
1,055,225 


County 


Bond 

Bureau 

Calhoun 

Christian 

Clinton 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin 

Greene 

Grundy 

.  .  .  .Hamilton 

Hancock 

Henry 

Jackson 

Jefferson 

Jersey 

....  Kankakee 

Knox 

La  Salle 

.  .  .  Livingston 

Logan 

.  .  McDonough 

McLean 

Macon 

.  .  .  .Macoupin 

Madison 

Marion 

Marshall 

Menard 

Mercer 

.  Montgomery 
......  .Morgan 

Moultrie 

Peoria 

Perry 

Putnam 

....  Randolph 
.  .  Rock  Island 

St.  Clair 

Saline 

.  .  .  .  Sangamon 

Schuyler 

Scott 

Shelby 

Stark 

Tazewell 

.  .  .  .  Vermilion 

Warren 

.  .Washington 

White 

Will 

.  .  .Williamson 
....  Woodford 
.  .Small  mines 


22,293 

1,537,591 

65,774 

466,528 

14,446 

89,781 

291,590 

4.986.574 

4,025,878 

1,311,024 

449,660 

177,578 

393,018 

2,182,823 

1.000 


1,225,574 

1,444,114 

720,048 

798,163 

66,817 

4,734,840 

4,417,874 

5,714,742 

4,573 

460 

185,501 

34,176 

271,321 

3,434,923 

5,021 

244,879 

27,052 

130,806 

7,354,507 

185,499 

157,994 


18,280 

1,564,459 

63,877 

351,666 

12,603 

88,777 

206,140 

5,097,619 

3,732,153 

988,964 

426,490 

120,174 

408,875 

2,689,702 

1,222 

(d) 

1,163,073 

2,013,128 

724,170 

763,472 

35,672 

4,383,459 

4,189,003 

5,875,853 

1,855 

600 

193,632 

14,610 

341,626 

3,501,880 

3,383 

319,370 

22,304 

149,926 

7,644,397 

h  302,184 

71,097 


$70, 294,338i$70, 313,605 


14,150 

1,279,592 

64,461 

352,181 

5,251 

79,008 

217,217 

4,555,834 

3,546,256 

906,837 

383,331 

76,603 

372,528 

2,597,677 

J906 


11,985 

1,192,794 

63,341 

311,346 

5,132 

80,321 

162,550 

4,832,540 

3,419,955 

925,365 

408,566 

78,893 

340,840 

2,877,459 

300 


9,897 

1,050,900 

110,709 

465,159 

13,927 

77,755 

189,529 

5,492,216 

4,173,587 

999,109 

438,983 

159  336 

274,692 

3,075  712 


14,050 

1,151,156 

125,363 

599,744 

(d) 

(d) 

308,053 

7,070,146 

5,364,251 

1,120,426 

437,087 

213,478 

268,791 

4,204,722 


7,669 
1,083,879 
105,341 
(d) 
(d) 
(d) 
347,400 
7,381,165 
5,074,383 
1,119,206 
310,784 
481,813 
287,443 
4,231,122 


1,055,323 

2,236,480 

605,863 

956,582 

36,022 

3,246,322 

3,746,656 

5,679,595 

2,781 

1,000 

196,339 

12,703 

335,566 

2,394,081 

1  510 

497,000 

32,111 

136,758 

7,066,029 

h  315,840 

98,340 


1,193,351 

2,383,658 

636,776 

892,948 

24,747 

2,908,129 

4,166,249 

5,075,823 

5,864 

1,000 

88,672 

11,919 

263,247 

2,469,263 

1,339 

445,028 

32,118 

141,416 

7,264,395 

h   337,514 

100,747 


57,589,197 
$64,693,529 


58,829,576 
$64,622,471 


207,044 

1,307,900 

2,474,573 

661,570 

965,089 

33,580 

4,172,697 

4,153,516 

5,128,970 

8,115 

1,000 

78,273 

8,013 

385,611 

2,833,909 

4,490 

694,468 

46,114 

80,885 

8,077,627 

j  192,045 

103,587 


66,195,336 

$75,566,086 


(d) 
1,547,916 
2,739,914 

(d) 

1,397,629 

55,082 

6,955,766 

5,188,777 

8,062,735 

8,006 

(d) 

132,591 

(d) 
508,215 
3,886,480 
(d) 
812,563 
(d) 
id) 
10,645,697 
fe  3,617,222 
134,820 


id) 
1,295,460 
2,917,590 

id) 

1,627,414 

36,068 

7,810,186 

5,684,594 

8,331,764 

7,004 

id) 

193,346 

{d) 
484,681 
3,973,478 
(d) 
821,357 
id) 
(d) 
11,338,562 
/  1,996,093 
73,438 


86,199,387 

$162,281,822 


89,291,105 
$206,860,291 


Total 

Total  value 


g  Includes  production  of  Crawford  and  Moultrie  counties. 
/,  Includes  production  of  Moultrie  County. 
I  Included  with  production  of  Morgan  County. 
"j  Includes  production  of  Johnson  County. 

£  Includes  Bond,  Greene,  Hancock,  Johnson,  McDonough,  McLean,  Moultrie,  Putnam,  Scott  Stark- 
Warren*  White,  Will  and  Woodford  counties. 

/   includes  same  counties  listed  in  (k)  with  the  addition  of  Logan  County. 


68  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

and  ninth  place  for  the  latter,  is  a  particularly  good  example  of  the  effect 
of  modern  methods  in  an  old  industry. 

Another  sign  of  increasing  efficiency  is  seen  in  the  decrease  in  the  total 
number  of  mines  during  the  last  decade.  The  number  of  mines  fell  from 
a  maximum  of  1,018  mines  of  all  types  in  1906  to  810  in  1917  and  967  in 
1918,  while  at  the  same  time  the  total  production  doubled.  Both  local  and 
shipping  mines  have  decreased  in  number  and  increased  in  tonnage,  the 
greater  increase  for  the  latter  class  probably  depending  upon  the  fact  that 
the  shipping  mines  are  also  the  larger  mines  worked  by  the  better  organized 
and  capitalized  companies. 

Comparisons  drawn  on  the  basis  of  the  relations  between  number  of 
men  and  production  are  less  simple.  For  the  period  from  1893  to  1918 
more  rapid  relative  increase  in  efficiency  is  indicated  for  local  mines  than 
for  shipping  mines  by  these  data,  but  the  per  capita  production  for  the  for- 
mer is  actually  still  far  below  that  for  latter  and  shows  the  efficiency  of 
shipping  mines  to  be  actually  greater  throughout  the  period.  The  fact 
remains,  however,  that  the  gap  between  shipping  and  local  mines  in  this 
regard  is  slowly  narrowing. 

One  factor  in  producing  such  a  result  may  be  that  the  hindrance 
imposed  by  excessive  competition  upon  efficient  operation  is  felt  more  by 
shipping  mines  than  by  local  mines.1 

The  idea  that  competition  must  force  efficiency  is  so  generally  accepted, 
so  almost  axiomatic,  that  the  failure  of  the  principle  in  this  instance  requires 
an  explanation.  The  remarkable  development  of  coal-carrying  railroads  and 
the  low  ton-mile  rates  made  for  long  hauls  have  permitted  the  more  cheaply 
produced  eastern  coals  to  move  into  Illinois  and  set  prices  that  are  too  low 
to  permit  efficient  development.  The  ease  of  opening  new  mines  causes 
scores  of  them  to  spring  up  with  every  period  of  unusual  prosperity,  and 
with  the  slack  spring  and  summer  seasons  or  with  the  return  of  normal  or 
subnormal  prosperity  the  effort  of  each  of  the  many  operators  to  keep  his 
own  mine  going  even  at  a  slight  loss  results  in  excessive  and  unfair  competi- 
tion. Proper  organization  or  consolidation  could  of  course  partly  remedy 
such  difficulties,  but  to  a  certain  extent  they  are  unavoidable,  as  Illinois 
coal  stocks  very  poorly  and  therefore  labor  rates  must  be  high  to  cover  the 
consequent  period  of  summer  idleness  even  though  mines  be  reduced  to  a 
number  conducive  to  efficiency.  All  these  conditions  have  led  to  a  steady 
decline  in  the  margin  of  profit,  a  feature  that  is  injurious  to  the  interests  of 
both  producer  and  consumer  when  it  is  carried  too  far.2 


iRice,  "Mining  Wastes  and  Mining  Costs  in  Illinois,"  in  111.  State  Geol.  Sur.   Bull.  14, 
p.  212  ff. 

2Andros,  Coal  Mining  in  Illinois,  Coal  Mining  Investigations,  Bull.  13,  figure  67,  p.  221. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


69 


Fig.  6.     Old  scoop,  rake  and  hammer  from  a  primitive  Illinois  coal  mine. 


Fig.  7.     A  modern  machine  for  mining  coal. 


70 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1911 


Fig.   8.     A  surface  plant   of  the  early   railroad  period. 

In  spite  of  the  hindrance  of  excessive  competition,  there  are  numerous 
examples  of  increasing  efficiency  in  the  coal  industry  of  Illinois.  Since 
1900  there  has  been  a  notable  increase  in  the  number  of  mines  using  machines, 
and  in  the  number  of  machines  in  use  in  each  mine.  This  has  resulted  in  a 
fourfold  increase  in  tonnage  for  mines  so  equipped  as  compared  with  a 
twofold  increase  for  all  other  mines  during  the  past  seventeen  years.  The 
contrasts  brought  out  by  figures  6  and  7,  and  figures  8  and  9,  typify  the 
advances  made  in  coal-mining  practice   since  the   early  days. 


Fig.   9.     A  modern   fireproof  steel  tipple. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  J\ 

Again,  in  protection  of  miners  against  injury  and  loss  of  life  the  coal 
mining  industry  shows  some  improvement.  The  actual  increase  in  non-fatal 
accidents  and  in  the  number  of  lives  lost  is  not  great,  but  in  the  number  of 
tons  of  coal  produced  to  each  life  lost  a  measure  of  the  progress  is  had. 
For,  whereas  in  the  unfortunate  year  of  1883  only  90,000  tons  of  coal  were 
taken  out  for  each  life  lost,  and  whereas  the  average  tonnage  per  life  lost 
during  the  entire  period  from  1883  to  1918  was  275,894  tons,  in  1918  for 
each  man  lost,  354,250  tons  were  recovered. 

CONDITION    OF    THE    COAL    INDUSTRY    IN    1917    AND    1918 

For  the  year  1918  the  statistical  information  available  on  production, 
distribution,  consumption,  and  prices  of  coal  is  more  detailed  and  more 
abundant  than  ever  before.  This  is  the  case  because  the  statistical  forces 
of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  were  vastly  augmented  by  coalition  with 
those  of  the  Fuel  Administration,  and  the  two  organizations  worked  together 
most  effectively  in  gathering  information  needed  for  the  working  out  of  the 
war-time  fuel  problems.  The  following  paragraphs  are  a  combination  of 
quotations  taken  from  the  Mineral  Resources  volume  of  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey  for   1918,  where  summaries   and  interpretations  of   these  statistics 


72 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 


Table  15. — Coal  produced  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  in  1917 


County 


Bond  and  White .  . 

Bureau 

Christian 

Clinton , 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin  and  Johnson 
Greene,  McDonough 

Moultrie,  and  Stark 

Grundy , 

Hancock,  Scott,  and 

Warren 

Henry 

Jackson 

Knox 

La  Salle 

Livingston 

Logan 

McLean,        Putnam 

Will,  and  Woodward 

Macon 

Macoupin 

Madison , 

Marion , 

Marshall , 

Menard 

Mercer , 

Montgomery 

Peoria 

Perry 

Randolph , 

Rock  Island , 

St.  Clair 

Saline 

Sangamon , 

Schuyler 

Shelby 

Tazewell 

Vermilion 

Washington 

Williamson 

Small  Mines , 


Loaded  at 
mines  for 
shipment 


Tons 

263,085 

1,237,589 

2,939,888 

1,315,869 

11,055,327 

2,607,467 

64,828 

237,737 
382,042 


693,341 

75 

768,300 

40,557 

470,395 

915,653 

103,745 

6,768,331 

5,080,675 

1,078,087 

315,889 

163,066 

231,119 

4,098,210 

1,392,783 

2,567,623 

1,335,249 


6,399,749 
5,027,201 
7,555,314 


101,873 

414,906 

3,631,877 

736,874 

10,288,621 


Sold  to 
local 
trade 
and  used 
by  em- 
ployees 


Tons 
17,624 
75,004 

128,035 
87,209 
93,112 

114,893 
7,225 

19,768 
18,230 

9,410 

47,911 
86,445 
13,125 
174,494 
79,772 
99,430 

121.075 

186,136 

142,243 

163,982 

20,415 

95,978 

44,731 

21,496 

43,106 

132,120 

104,232 

25,771 

53,593 

330,588 

48,330 

346,029 

8,060 

22,018 

85,071 

207,241 

51,664 

81,406 

134,820 


,283,345 


3,541,792 


Used  at 
mines  for 

steam 
and  heat 


Tons 
11,194 
50,769 
65,437 
61,644 

306,799 

98,135 

2,684 

10,501 
17,761 


2,121 

27,374 

850 

208,362 

5,034 

29,919 

52,689 

18,172 

159,572 

119,594 

21,924 

25,220 

5,681 

16,176 

63,406 

23,013 

68,059 

36,609 

1,489 

225,429 

113,246 

161,392 


8,700 

8,238 

47,362 

24,025 

275,670 


2,374,250 


Total 
quantity 


Tons 

291,903 

1,363,362 

3,133,360 

1,464,722 

11,455,238 

2,820,495 

74,737 

268,006 
418,033 

9,410 

50,032 

807,160 

14,050 

1,151,156 

125,363 

599,744 

1,089,417 

308,053 

7,070,146 

5,364,251 

1,120,426 

437,087 

213,478 

268,791 

4,204,722 

1,547,916 

2,739,914 

1,397,629 

55,082 

6,955,766 

5,188,777 

8,062,735 

8,060 

132,591 

508,215 

3,886,480 

812,563 

10,645,697 

134,820 


86,199,387 


Total 
value 


$  570,777 
3,264,762 
5,033,909 
2,478,142 

24,826,209 

5,842,466 

162,702 

525,841 
1,136,872 

27,316 

122,040 

1,677,391 

33,463 

2,824,317 

302,158 

1,245,360 

2,324,545 

808,345 

11,268,463 

8,867,527 

2,359,699 

1,134,268 

423,201 

559,400 

7,974,031 

3,026,966 

5,209,006 

2,361,474 

114,252 

11,951,313 

9,337,641 

13,768,705 

16,610 

313,790 

1,024,281 

7,069,877 

1,500,612 

20,493,024 

301,067 


162,281,822 


Aver- 
age 

value 
per 
ton 


$1.96 
2.39 
1.61 
1.69 
2.17 
2.07 
2.18 

1.96 

2.72 

2.90 
2.44 
2.08 
2.38 
2.45 
2.41 
2.08 

2.13 
2.62 
1.59 
1.65 
2.11 
2.60 
1.98 
2.08 
1.90 
1.96 
1.90 
1.69 
2.07 
1.72 
1.80 
1.71 
2.06 
2.37 
2.02 
1.82 
1.85 
1.93 
2.23 


1.88 


Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber of 
days 
worked 


233 
285 
242 
203 
217 
202 
227 

243 
267 

207 
259 
205 
212 
273 
263 
257 

282 
252 
248 
248 
227 
297 
257 
235 
238 
283 
205 
224 
205 
225 
238 
264 
167 
177 
273 
277 
277 
231 


243 


Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber of 
em- 
ployees 


253 
2,629 
2,852 
1,568 
10,483 
3,199 

100 

252 
721 

29 

92 

1,001 

25 

1,515 

169 

738 

1,831 

541 

6,135 

4,424 

1,126 

809 

246 

364 

3,664 

1,667 

2,857 

1,334 

61 

6,278 

5,460 

7,316 

19 

235 

566 

3,554 

707 

9,270 


84,090 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


73 


Table  16. — Coal  produced  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  in  short  tons,  in  1918 


County 


Bond  and  White.  .  .  . 

Bureau 

Christian 

Clinton 

Franklin 

Fulton 

Gallatin  and  Johnson 

Greene,  McDonough, 
Moultrie  and  Stark 

Grundy 

Hancock,  Scott  and 
Warren 

Henry 

Jackson 

Knox 

La  Salle 

Livingston 

Logan,  McLean,  Put- 
nam, Will  and 
Woodford 

Macon 

Macoupin 

Madison 

Marion 

Marshall 

Menard 

Mercer 

Montgomery 

Peoria 

Perry 

Randolph 

Rock  Island 

St.  Clair 

Saline 

Sangamon 

Schuyler 

Shelby 

Tazewell 

Vermilion 

Washington 

Williamson 

Small  Mines 


Loaded  at 

mines 
shipment 


Tons 

341,921 

1,057,949 

3,130,120 

1,395,797 

11,880,427 

2,390,519 

207,793 

200,581 
285,929 


886,901 


706,078 
25,792 


1,002,245 

118,752 

7,130,626 

4,820,571 

1,061,749 

222,627 

158,508 

257,713 

4,099,379 

1,148,236 

2,683,943 

1,548,088 


7,266,076 

5,454,661 

7,809,564 

150 

158,636 

418,292 

3,709,974 

716,138 

10,973,129 


83,268,864 


Sold  to 
local 
trade 
and  used 
by  em- 
ployees 


Tons 
23,858 
73,725 

139,566 
86,954 

123,300 
82,796 
10,441 

15,751 
15,381 

2,913 

39,637 

129,895 

6,869 

331,750 

74,473 


235,896 

209,371 
81,874 

136,081 
21,932 
62,731 
39,480 
14,597 
53,518 

126,665 

128,467 
38,689 
34,723 

311,998 
74,353 

367,432 

6,854 

24,086 

60,392 

215,812 
79,222 
86,124 
73,438 


3,641,044 


Used  at 
mines  for 

steam 
and  heat 


Tons 
15,090 
49,523 
70,691 
50,951 

369,629 

78,790 

9,210 

11,905 
16,491 


1,695 

38,429 

800 

46,051 

5,076 


71,595 

19,277 

168,665 

117,731 

35,525 

25,426 

5,489 

15,133 

78,225 

20,559 

105,180 

40,637 

1,345 

232,112 

115,580 

154,768 


10,624 

5,997 

47,692 

25,997 

279,309 


2,381,197 


Total 
quantity 


Tons 

380,869 

1,181,197 

3,340,377 

1,533,702 

12,373,356 

2,552,105 

227,444 

228,237 
317,801 

2,913 

41,332 

1,055,225 

7,669 

1,083,879 

105,341 


1,309,736 

347,400 

7,381,165 

5,074,383 

1,119,206 

310,784 

203,477 

287,443 

4,231,122 

1,295,460 

2,917,590 

1,627,414 

36,068 

7,810,186 

5,684,594 

8,331,764 

7,004 

193,346 

484,681 

3,973,478 

821,357 

11,338,562 

73,438 


89,291,105 


Total 
value 


$  867,830 
3,634,242 
6,779,546 
3,388,733 

29,224,580 

6,662,120 

494,951 

500,684 
1,041,057 

10,732 

120,237 

2,624,528 

20,069 

3,298,978 

362,763 


3,398,260 

992,609 

15,917,126 

11,532,446 

2,560,888 

1,322,028 

481,813 

808,392 

9,748,693 

3,379,552 

6,525,306 

3,547,510 

81,078 

16,607,837 

13,478,859 

18,426,528 

15,198 

525,551 

1,268,769 

9,017,278 

1,857,741 

26,138,979 

196,800 


206,860,291 


Aver- 
age 

value 
per 
ton 


$2.28 
3.08 
2.03 
2.21 
2.36 
2.61 
2.18 

2.19 
3.28 

3.68 
2.91 
2.49 
2.62 
3.04 
3.44 


2.59 
2.86 
2.16 
2.27 
2.29 
4.25 
2.37 
2.81 
2.30 
2.61 
2.24 
2.18 
2.25 
2.13 
2.37 
2.21 
2.17 
2.72 
2.62 
2.27 
2.26 
2.31 
2.68 


$2.32 


Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber of 
days 
worked 


245 
276 
228 
210 
220 
240 
221 

237 
235 

152 
292 
227 
193 
271 
236 


268 
266 
244 
229 
265 
267 
265 
183 
218 
247 
225 
233 
205 
231 
251 
250 
283 
207 
235 
261 
272 
230 


238 


Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber of 
em- 
ployees 


379 
1,999 
2,877 
1,533 
11,218 
3,066 

252 

226 
457 

11 
76 

1,206 
25 

1,691 
162 


2,044 

455 

6,533 

4,377 

975 

669 

217 

354 

3,824 

1,493 

2,776 

1,518 

50 

7,047 

5,782 

7,595 

14 

272 

574 

3,434 

574 

10,210 


74  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


PRODUCTION 


The  dominating  factor  in  the  coal  industry  in  1918  was  the  control  over 
every  feature,  from  production  to  consumption,  exercised  by  the  Fuel 
Administration.     The  chaotic  conditions  that  marked  the  closing  months  of 

1917  continued  through  the  first  two  months  of  1918,  for  the  situation  was 
so  bad  that  no  hope  was  entertained  of  getting  the  distribution  of  coal  into 
orderly  shape  until  the  effects  of  the  extreme  weather  had  passed  and  the 
organization  of  the  Fuel  Administration  had  progressed  to  the  point  of 
enabling  it  to  assume  full  control.  Much  of  the  criticism  that  has  been 
leveled  at  the  Fuel  Administration  is  based  on  the  happenings  of  the  winter 
of  1917-18,  when  no  hand  could  stay  the  fury  of  the  elements  and  when 
sufficient  time  had  not  elapsed  from  the  inception  of  Government  control 
to  furnish  an  adequate  organization  to  handle  the  situation. 

Contrasted  with  the  uncertainty  and  disturbance  in  1917  and  the  first 
months  of  1918  was  the  definiteness  of  purpose  and  of  control  that  existed 
once  the  Fuel  Administration  had  become  organized  and  its  policies  had 
become  formulated  and  were  appreciated  by  the  industry  and  the  public. 
The  definite  and  positive  control  of  distribution  by  the  Fuel  Administration 
began  on  April  1,  1918,  with  the  installation  of  the  zone  system  and  the 
allotment  of  coal  under  the  budget  system.  By  the  first  of  July  it  was 
apparent  to  those  closely  in  touch  with  conditions  that,  barring  unforeseen 
contingencies,  the  country  would  be  fueled  for  the  year,  and  by  the  first  of 
October  there  was  no  doubt  as  to  the  outcome.  In  fact  by  October  the 
problem  in  certain  areas  was  not  to  find  coal  to  meet  the  demand,  but  to 
find  consumers  to  take  the  coal  that  was  being  produced.  After  the  signing 
of  the  armistice,  November  11,  the  demand  for  coal  appreciably  slackened, 
because  of  the  cessation  of  war  industry,  and  by  the  end  of  the  year  the 
lack  of  market  was  an  important  factor  with  many  bituminous  coal  districts 
and  mines  operating  on  part  time. 

There  was  no  coal  shortage  in  1918;  sufficient  coal,  both  anthracite  and 
bituminous,  was  produced  to  care  fully  for  all  needs,  and  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that,  even  had  the  war  continued,  the  country  would  not  have  suffered 
from  lack  of  fuel.  The  mildness  of  the  winter  of  1918-19  of  course  entailed 
a  decrease  in  the  requirements,  particularly  of  anthracite  for  house  use. 

A  new  high  record  for  production  of  coal  in  Illinois  was  established  in 

1918  by  an  output  of  89,291,105  tons,  an  increase  over  the  previous  high 
record  of  1917  of  3,091,718  tons,  or  3.6  per  cent.  By  far  the  greater  part 
of  this  increase  came  from  the  three  southern  counties,  Franklin,  William- 
son, and  Saline,  in  which  is  produced  the  highest-grade  coal  in  Illinois.  The 
central  or  Springfield  district  also  had  an  increase,  as  did  the  Belleville  and 
Danville  districts,  but  the  northern  and  Fulton-Peoria  districts  recorded  de- 
creases. The  proportionately  large  increase  obtained  in  the  southern  field 
was  made  possible  by  the  developments  in  the  last  few  years  and  because 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


75 


of  the  need  and  demand  for  the  excellent  coal  from  this  field  to  fill  the  re- 
quirements of  consumers  who  were  denied  the  higher  grades  of  eastern 
coal  by  the  zoning  system.  The  following  table  shows  in  a  general  way  the 
relative  progress  of  the  principal  producing  districts  in  Illinois  from  1916 
to  1918.  As  the  totals  given  were  arrived  at  by  combining  county  totals 
and  not  all  the  counties  in  the  State  are  included  and  because  the  fields 
described  are  not  actually  defined  by  county  lines,  the  following  record  must 
be  considered  as  relative  rather  than  as  representing  the  actual  production 
in  these  well-known  trade  and  rate  districts. 


Table  17. — Production  of  coal  in  Illinois,  by  grc 

ups  of  princi 

pal  counties, 

1916  to  1918 

Field 

County 

1916 

1917 

1918 

Northern 

Grundy,  Will,  LaSalle,  Bureau 
and  Putnam 

3,458,000 
2,834,000 

4,203,000 

17,234,000 

12,872,000 
21,686,000 

3,738,000 
3,886,000 

5,215,000 

23,848,000 

17,716,000 
27,363,000 

3,215,000 

Danville 

Fulton-Peoria .  . 

Vermilion 

Tazewell,  Rock  Island,  Fulton, 
and  Knox 

3,973,000 
4,663,000 

Central 

Belleville 

Southern 

Logan,  Macon,  Christian,  Mont- 
gomery,   Menard,    Moultrie, 
Macoupin,  and  Sangamon.. . 

Madison,  Bond,  St.  Clair,  Mon- 
roe, Randolph,  Perry,  Mar- 
ion, and  Jefferson 

Franklin,    Williamson,    Saline, 
and  Gallatin 

24,519,000 

18,758,000 
29,623,000 

The  average  number  of  days  worked  decreased  from  243  in  1917  to 
238  in  1918  and  the  number  of  men  increased  slightly  from  84,090  to  85,965. 
The  average  daily  output  per  man,  however,  increased  from  4.22  tons  in 
1917  to  4.37  tons  in  1918,  and  by  reason  of  the  greater  effectiveness  of  the 
labor  the  total  production  for  the  State  was  increased.  Had  not  the  demand 
fallen  off  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  year  an  even  larger  production  would 
have  been  attained. 

The  weekly  statistics  of  operation,  shown  graphically  in  figure  10,  indi- 
cate that  largely  because  of  lack  of  cars  the  mines  in  Illinois  averaged  only 
about  70  per  cent  of  full  running  time  in  the  first  five  months  of  1918,  and 
that  from  June  to  the  end  of  October  the  average  was  increased  to  nearly 
80  per  cent.  Because  of  no  market,  mainly  lack  of  demand  for  steam  coal, 
which  affected  the  central  and  neighboring  fields,  the  production  declined  in 
November  and  December  to  less  than  60  per  cent. 

DISTRIBUTION    AND   CONSUMPTION 

The  production  of  coal  in  Illinois  increased  in  1918,  compared  with 
1917,  by  more  than  3,000,000  tons.     For  consumers  in  the  State  of  Illinois, 


76 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


deliveries  were  greater  in  1918  by  about  5,700,000  tons;  total  commercial 
shipments  to  other  states  were  about  the  same  in  the  two  years,  but  deliv- 
eries to  railroads  were  more  than  3,000,000  tons  less  in  1918  than  in  1917. 
A  considerable  portion  of  the  coal  in  commercial  shipments  from  Illinois 
normally  goes  to  retail  dealers,  and  in  September  and  October  that  trade 
represented  nearly  half  of  the  total. 


UG        [     SEPT  OCT,     |      NOV         |    DEC. 


g— igfaffl 


°f  ffl  L?lL^^°l  £3  Lost,  account  of  [H  Lost,  account  of  Fl 


Lost, account  of 


Lost,  account  of 
labor  shortage 


Lost,  accou 


car  shortage    ^   '^MkZ*  M   mine 


iccountof  F1  Lost,  account  of  I    I 
disability  [£j     no  market 


Lost.no  cause 
reported 


Fig.    10.      Percentage  of  full-time  operation  of  coal   mines   and   of   lossses  of   running  time, 
by  causes,  and  by  weeks,  in  1918:    A,  in  the  United  States;  B,  in  Illinois. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  JJ 

Table  18. — Statistics  of  distribution  and  of  consumption  of  coal  for  Illinois  in  1917  and  1918 


Quantity  in  Tons 

Percentage  of  Total 

1917            I             1918                    1917                 1918 

Destination  of  coal  produced  in  Illinois  in  1917  and  1918 

Used  in  Illinois: 

Sold  to  local  trade,  not  shipped.  . 
Used  at  mines  for  steam  and  heat . 
Shipped  to  Illinois  points 


Shipped  to  other  States: 

Alabama 

Arkansas 

Indiana 

Iowa 

Kansas 

Kentucky 

Louisiana 

Michigan 

Minnesota 

Mississippi 

Missouri 

Nebraska 

North  Dakota 

Ohio 

South  Dakota 

Tennessee , 

Texas 

Wisconisn 


Delivered  to  railroads  by  all-rail  routes. 

Exported  by  rail 

Shipped  to  tidewater 


Total  production  of  coal  in  Illinois. 


3,541.792 

2,374,250 

25,780,675 


31,696,717 


96,000 
,255,000 
,026,000 
107,000 

18,000 
102,000 
706,000 
,801,000 

55,000 
,806,000 
661,000 

43,000 

63,000 
231,000 

50,000 

63,000 
,936,000 


19,019,000 


35,431,220 

50,000 

2,450 


86,199,387 


3,641,044 

2,381,197 

31,405,464 


37,427,705 


20,719 

267,628 

2,410,432 

3,597,048 

46,767 

14,306 

86,112 

983,572 

1,967,926 

22,954 

6,830,419 

185,946 

7,820 

16,000 

228,160 

210,128 

322 

2,486,254 


19,382,513 


32,370,362 
95,125 
15,400 


36.7 


41.1 
.1 


100.0 


41.9 


21.7 


36.3 
.1 


100.0 


Source  of  coal  consumed  in  Illinois  in  1917  and  1918 


31,696,717 

37,427,705 

73.9 

80.2 

Shipped  in  from  other  States: 

20,000 
5,165,000 

29,810 

6,015,607 

1,703 

46 

241,407 

353,095 

105,638 

40,596 

9,450 

26,272 

750 

38,088 
3,944 
2.955 

10,541 

Indiana 

Kentucky: 

428,000 

228,000 

447,000 

25,000 

25,000 
65,000 

Ohio: 

Pennsylvania: 

Central 

52,000 

Pittsburgh  and  Panhandle  of  West  Virginia .... 

55,000 
15,000 
45,000 
74,000 

30,000 

543,000 

275,000 

2,650,000 

1,050,221 

Virginia,  southwestern 

West  Virginia: 

10,308 

2,915 

392,301 

10,895 

969,081 

960,000 

11,192,221 

9,225,402 

26.1 

19.8 

9,520 

13,664 

42,898,458 

46,666,771 

100.0 

100.0 

78 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Table  18  which  summarizes  the  statistics  of  distribution  and  consump- 
tion of  coal  in  Illinois  in  1917  and  1918  is  deserving  of  careful  study. 
Among  other  things  should  be  noted  that  in  1918  as  compared  with  1917 
a  greater  percentage  of  the  Illinois  production  was  used  within  the  State, 
and  that  a  smaller  percentage  of  the  total  State  consumption  came  from  the 
more  distant  sources.  These  two  facts  indicate  the  success  of  the  zoning 
plan  and  other  shipping  regulations  of  the  Fuel  Administration,  made  in  its 
attempt  to  eliminate  unnecessarily  long  hauls  of  fuel  wherever  possible. 
Another  fact  brought  out  is  that  Illinois  produces  roughly  twice  as  much 
coal  as  it  consumes. 


300 
280 

6 
I 

260 
240 

III 

T 

200 
180 
160 

1 

ir — 

9 

140 
120 
100 

80 
60 

J   A 

\ 

P 

2 

4 

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mImImIm 

nl.ili.fri 

nlnlnln 

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mIi.ImIm 

5  as    '-,   (-"  , 
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'■  ?  !2  *~  ' 

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I  <   =?  ©  - 

.'   aS    *5    e- 

;  ft.  5  o 

»  <  »  o 

«  OS  5   E-' 

5  <  i  o 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

300 

B 

K  /I 

1 

280 

v 

260 

240 

5 

220 

X, 

200 

V 

/r 

I 

1 

180 

160 

/ 

6 

140 

120 

3 

1 

\ 

100 

SO 

I  >A 

1 

u- 

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-Vw- 

2 

60 

„,.,,.,,., 

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( IIM, 

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ft!    1    H    ? 

ft.  r:  o   i 

<    ^    O    i- 

<"  e!  5  E* 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

Fig.   11.     Relative  spot  prices  of  all  bituminous  coal  produced,  by  months,   1913-1918  : 
A,  in  Illinois  ;  B,  in  the  United  States. 


Figure  11  has  been  prepared  to  show  the  fluctuations  in  the  prices  of 
domestic  coal  from  1913  to  1918  in  the  United  States  as  a  whole,  and  in 
the  Carterville-Herrin  district  in  Illinois.  Similar  graphs  for  the  Mount 
Olive,  Springfield,  and  Standard  districts  may  be  found  in  the  1918  Mineral 
Resources  volume. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  79 

As  the  inquiry  into  prices  centered  about  the  effect  of  the  war,  the 
charts  were  made  to  show  the  movement  of  prices  away  from  the  pre-war 
level.  This  effect  was  produced  by  treating  the  average  actual  prices  in  the 
12  months  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the  war  (July,  1913,  to  June,  1914, 
inclusive)  as  equal  to  100,  and  throwing  the  actual  prices  in  each  month 
from  January,  1913,  to  December,  1918,  into  the  form  of  relative  prices  on 
that  scale.  For  example,  if  the  selling  price  of  coal  averaged  $2  a  ton  in 
the  12  months  before  the  war,  and  if  it  fell  to  $1.80  in  October,  1914,  the 
chart  would  show  the  relative  price  for  that  month  as  90;  and  if  the  price 
rose  to  $4.60  in  July,  1918,  the  chart  would  show  the  relative  price  as  230. 

The  marketing  methods  of  different  producers  vary,  but  in  general 
they  dispose  of  their  coal  in  four  ways:  (1)  on  the  open  market,  (2)  under 
contract  to  jobbers,  (3)  through  a  sales  agency  on  commission,  and  (4)  under 
contract  to  consumers.  The  money  taken  in  by  producers  from  these  four 
sources  is  termed  the  "realization  price."  Jobbers  dispose  of  the  coal  they 
buy  on  the  open  market  to  a  large  extent,  and  all  in  all  a  large  proportion 
of  the  coal  goes  through  the  open  market  before  it  reaches  the  consumer. 
The  prices  paid  on  the  open  market  are  called  the  "free"  or  "spot  prices." 
Spot  prices  may  be  higher  or  lower  than  contract  prices,  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. They  are  as  a  rule,  lower  in  summer  because  of  slack  demand, 
and  higher  in  winter.  Spot  prices  are  often  lowest  in  April  because  in  that 
month  demand  is  lowest  and  buyers  are  concerned  in  negotiating  for  the 
lowest  possible  prices  for  the  ensuing  year's  contracts. 

Both  spot  and  realization  prices  are  studied  and  compared  by  the  Fuel 
Administration  but  for  purposes  of  this  report,  either  kind  would  serve.  The 
diagrams  given  as  figure  11  were  made  to  represent  "spot"  prices,  which 
are  the  ones  of  greatest  immediate  interest  to  the  greatest  number  of  con- 
sumers.    The  explanation  of  the  two  graphs  is  as  follows : 

A. — Production,  1917,  28,000,000  net  tons.  Average  spot  price,  pre-war  period.  $1.16  : 
average  realized  price,  $1.16. 

1-5.  The  average  monthly  quotations  for  Carterville  and  Franklin  County  coal  on 
the  St.  Louis  market  in  the  period  beginning  with  1913  to  the  first  half  of  19i5  ranged 
from  $1.19  in  January,  1913  (1),  to  a  low  point  in  June,  1913,  of  $1.08  (2),  and  to  $1  in 
November,  1914  (4),  and  the  high  price  in  January,  1914,  of  $1.28  (3),  and  in  February. 
1915,  of  $1.25    (5). 


repor 


6.  The  maximum  average  monthly  quotation  for  the  six-year  period  covered  by  this 
t  was  for  January,   1917,  $3.30    (6). 

7.  Prevailing  quotations  in  May  and  June,  1917,  when  the  Peabody  prices  were  estab- 
lished were  around   $3.19    (7). 

8.  The  prices  in  July  and  August,  during  which  the  Peabody  agreement  was  in 
effect,  are  indicated  at   (8). 

9.  The  prices  established  by  the  President  at  the  end  of  August,  1917,  are  indicated 
at   (9). 

10.  The  increase  of  45  cents  per  ton  allowed  the  operators  to  cover  the  advance  in 
mine  wages  authorized   in  November,    1917,   is   indicated   at    (10). 

11.  The  general  reduction  of  10  cents  per  ton  ordered  by  the  Fuel  Administrator  on 
May  25,  1918,  is  indicated  at   (11). 

B. — Production,  1917,  551.790,000  net  tons.  Average  spot  price,  pre-war  period. 
$1.27  ;  average  realized  price,  $1.17. 

1,  2.  The  downward  trend  of  the  price  of  bituminous  coal  in  1913.  1914.  and  1915. 
is  shown  by  both  the  spot  prices  and  the  average  prices  realized.  From  a  jjeneral  aver- 
age spot  price  of  $1.47  in  January,  1913    (1),  prices  declined  to  $1.14  in  July,   1915    (2). 


80  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

iU         3-      The  strength  of  the  demand  in  the  winter  of  1915-16  particularly  manifested   in 
the  Eastern  States,  is  indicated  by  the  rise  in  the  general  average  spot  price  to  $1.54   (3). 

.^r,    4-     Tne  hi§'hest  Point  reached  by  the  general  average  spot  price  was  $3.77   in  June. 
1917    (4). 

5.  The  amount  of  reduction  effected  by  the  Peabody  prices  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
drop  in  the  curves  from   (4)    to   (5). 

6.  Likewise,  the  further  decrease  in  the  general  level  of  prices  brought  about  by  the 
President's  price  of  August  21,  1917,  is  shown  by  the  drop  in  the  curves  from   (5)   to   (6). 

7.  The  general  effect  on  prices  of  bituminous  coal  of  the  wage  advance  in  Novem- 
ber,  1917,  is  indicated  by  the  rise  from   (6)    to    (7). 

8.  Advances  in  price  in  various  fields  authorized  by  the  Fuel  Administration  as  the 
result  of  investigations  of  the  cost  of  mining  raised  the  general  level  gradually  to  a  maxi- 
mum under  Government  control  in  May,  1918    (8). 

9.  The  general  reduction  in  price  of  10  cents  a  ton  on  all  bituminous  coal  ordered 
May  25,  1918,  is  reflected  in  the  curves  at   (9). 

The  spot  prices  used  in  making  the  charts  were  taken  from  the  weekly 
market  quotations  in  the  trade  paper,  the  Coal  Age,  and  the  average  realiza- 
tion prices  referred  to  from  annual  reports  of  operators  compiled  by  the 
U.  S.  Geological  Survey. 

Table  19. — Average  price  per  short  ton  of  Illinois  coal  at  mines,  1905-1918 

1905     $1.06 

1906  1.08 

1907  1.07 

1908  1.05 

1909  1.05 

1910  1.14 

1911  1.11 

1912  1.17 

1913  1.14 

1914  1.12 

1915  1.09 

1916  1.25 

1917  1.88 

1918  2.32    . 

Frontier  and  Civil  War  Periods,  1818-1868 
During  the  Frontier  and  Civil  War  periods,  that  is,  from  1818  to  1868, 
few  new  industries  had  their  beginnings.     Although  the  exact  date  for  these 
few  are  lost  in  obscurity,  it  is  probably  correct  to  list  them  as  the  iron,  coke, 
clay  products,  cement,  and  sand  and  gravel  industries. 

Iron 
The  iron  production  given  in  Table  20  is  not  included  in  the  total  of 
Illinois'  mineral  production,  because  it  represents  merely  the  quantity  and 
value  of  the  metallic  iron  which  is  extracted  in  the  State  from  iron  ore  that 
originates  in  the  Lake  Superior  region.  The  State's  own  iron  industry,  based 
on  ore  produced  within  its  own  boundaries,  is  dead,  and  so  nearly  forgotten 
that  its  one-time  existence  comes  as  a  surprise  to  many.  Iron  is  one  of  the 
most  nearly  universally  distributed  elements  in  the  earth's  crust  and  Illinois 
has  iron  deposits  which  in  the  days  when  known  deposits  were  less  plentiful 
could  be  mined  and  smelted  with  profit.  Though  iron  ore  was  sought  in 
many  places  in  the  State,  and  as  late  as  1870  was  seriously  considered  as  a 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


81 


possible  resource  still  to  be  developed  in  the  not  distant  future,  it  was  only 
in  Hardin  County  that  an  indigenous  iron  industry  really  existed.  Its  story 
is  found  in  two  paragraphs  in  the  old  Geological  Survey  of  Illinois.1 

Table  20. — Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pig  iron  in  Illinois,  1907-1918 


Average 

Average 

Year 

Quantity 

Value 

price 
per  ton 

Year 

Quantity 

Value 

price 
per  ton 

1907 

2,457,768 

$52,229,000 

$21.25 

1913 

2,892,263 

$45,796,966 

$15.83 

1908 

1,691,944 

30,135,000 

17.81 

1914 

1,793,714 

24,382,458 

13.59 

1909 

2,467,156 

44,211,000 

17.92 

1915 

2,455,894 

34,207,901 

13.93 

1910 

2,675,646 

42,917,362 

15.91 

1916 

3,857,391 

67,764,309 

17.57 

1911 

2,036,081 

31,152,927 

15.30 

1917 

3,458,126 

91,094,541 

26.24 

1912 

2,806,378 

42,828,816 

15.26 

1918 

3,409,876 

105,415,030 

30.91 

"Two  furnaces  have  been  in  operation  in  this  county,  both  smelting  the 
limonite  ores,  .  .  .  with  charcoal,  of  wrhich  the  heavily  timbered  lands 
of  the  adjacent  region  have  furnished  an  abundant  supply.  The  Illinois 
Furnace  .  .  .  was  built  about  the  year  1837,  and  rebuilt  and  enlarged  in 
1856,  and  continued  operations  until  the  beginning  of  the  rebellion  in  1861, 
when  it  was  stopped.  It  is  32  feet  in  height ;  the  hearth  and  inner  walls 
are  built  of  sandstones  of  the  Chester  group,  and  the  outer  walls  of  lime- 
stone. (Both  materials  are  from  locally  outcropping  rock  strata.)  The 
blast  was  furnished  by  two  horizontal  double-acting  cylinders  driven  by 
steam  power  and  could  be  applied  either  hot  or  cold.  The  flame  at  the  top 
of  the  furnace  was  conducted  under  a  steam  boiler,  and  then  round  a  heat- 
ing apparatus  for  the  blast,  and  escaped  thence  through  a  chimney.  The  ore 
was  first  burned  on  log-heaps  to  expel  the  water  and  prepare  it  for  the 
furnace.  Two  hundred  bushels  of  charcoal,  from  oak  and  other  hard  woods 
(which  originally  covered  the  county  in  dense  forests),  were  consumed  in 
the  production  of  a  ton  of  pig  iron,  and  this  furnace  is  said  to  have  yielded 
nine  tons  of  pig  metal  every  twenty-four  hours.  It  was  usually  run  from 
six  to  nine  months  of  the  year,  according  to  the  facility  with  which  the  ore 
was  obtained.  The  metal  produced  was  of  excellent  quality  and  always 
commanded  the  highest  market  price. 

"The  Martha  Furnace  .  .  .  situated  on  Hog  Thief  Branch  .  .  . 
smaller  than  the  Illinois  Furnace,  was  built  in  1848  and  stopped  in  1857,  and 
is  now  in  a  dilapidated  condition.  It  usually  ran  about  eight  months  of  the 
year.  The  ore  for  these  furnaces  usually  cost  from  one  and  three-quarters 
to  two  dollars  per  ton,  at  the  furnaces,  and  the  charcoal  four  cents  per 
bushel." 


1866. 


iWorthen,  A.  H.,  Geology  of  Hardin  County:     Geo!.  Survey  of  Illinois,  Vol.  I,  p.  365, 


82  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

COKE 

Just  as  the  early  iron  industry  of  Illinois  died  and  was  replaced  by  an 
industry  nominally  the  same  but  in  reality  different  because  dependent  on 
raw  materials  from  other  states,  so  an  early  coke  industry  thrived  on  Illinois 
coal  but  was  later  replaced  by  a  far  larger  coke  industry  using  coal  mined 
in  the  east.  The  available  statistics  (Table  21)  date  from  1880  and  show 
the  decline  from  eighth  place  among  the  states  in  that  year  to  twenty-third 
place  in  1904  and  1905,  followed  by  a  rise  to  fourth  place  in  the  ensuing 
period.  The  earlier  period  of  maximum  production  followed  upon  the 
exhaustion  of  timber  in  sufficient  abundance  for  charcoal  for  use  of  the  iron 
furnaces.  Better  coke  was  to  be  had  in  the  east,  but  the  high  cost  of  trans- 
portation in  the  days  of  few  railroads  outweighed  the  advantage  of  eastern 
over  Illinois  coke,  and  iron  smelters  were  content  to  establish  themselves  in 
the  midwest  centers  of  population  near  the  supplies  of  raw  material  for  their 
coke.  And  so  for  many  years  the  coke  industry  thrived  on  Illinois  coal, 
quantities  of  fuel  for  blast  furnaces  being  manufactured  at  Carterville,  St. 
Johns,  Brussels,  Equality,  Brookside,  and  Streator.  Especially  was  the  indus- 
try important  in  the  Big  Muddy  valley,  favorably  situated  south  and  east 
of  St.  Louis,  for  in  the  Big  Muddy  coal  field  was  found  some  of  the  very 
best  coal  for  coking  purposes  in  the  State.  With  the  marvelous  cheapening 
of  transportation  that  marked  the  decades  following  1890,  New  River  and 
Pennsylvania  cokes  moved  at  so  reasonable  a  cost  into  the  markets  fed  by 
the  Illinois  product  that  consumers  found  it  economy  to  use  the  superior 
eastern  article  in  place  of  the  inferior  product  from  the  impure  Illinois  coals. 
By  1893  attempts  to  make  metallurgical  coke  from  Illinois  coal  was  aban- 
doned and  the  little  that  was  made  was  chiefly  for  use  in  the  manufacture 
of  water  gas  and  for  domestic  use  as  crushed  coke.  The  coke  manufacturers 
were  not  even  permitted  to  enjoy  that  small  market  undisputed,  and  the 
decline  continued  into  the  early  years  of  the  new  century.  The  prodigious 
increase  after  1904  was  heralded  by  the  completion  at  South  Chicago  in  1905 
of  a  bank  of  120  Semet-Solvay  by-product  ovens  using  coal  drawn  from 
the  field  of  Fayette  County,  West  Virginia.1 

Prior  to  1900  the  concentration  of  enormous  coke  production  in  the 
beehive  coke  oven  fields  of  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia  rendered  impos- 
sible the  absorption  of  more  than  a  small  fraction  of  the  gas  and  other 
potentially  valuable  materials  evolved  in  coke  manufacture,  and  the  enor- 
mous remainder  was  not  readily  transportable  to  outside  areas.  A  solution 
for  the  difficulty  was  found  in  the  transfer  of  the  raw  material  from  the 
good  coke-coal  fields  to  such  places  for  manufacture  as  Chicago,  where 
great  quantities  of  coke  were  demanded  by  near-by  steel  mills  and  where 
the  by-products,  particularly  the  gas,  might  find  a  market  that  would  more 
than  pay  coal  transportation  costs. 

lUnited  States  Geological  Survey,  Mineral  Resources  of  1905,  p.   740. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


83 


With  the  beginning  of  the  State's  new  coke  industry  in  1905,  then,  the 
ends  of  conservation  were  served  by  stopping  the  great  waste  of  the  nation's 
coal  resources  involved  in  the  use  of  the  beehive  coke  oven  and  at  the  same 
time  Illinois  gained  a  great  industrial  asset.  In  five  years  after  the  first 
by-product  ovens  were  put  in  operation  the  last  of  the  beehive  coke  was  pro- 


Table  21- 

—Statistics  of  the  manufacture  of  coke  in  Illinois,  1880-1918 

Estab- 
lish- 
ments 

Ove 

ns 

Coal  used 

Yield 
of  coal 
in  coke 

Coke 
produced 

Total 
value  of 
coke  at 

ovens 

Value  of 
coke  at 
ovens 
per  ton 

Rank 

of 
State 

Year 

Built 

Building 

1880 

6 
6 

7 
7 
9 
9 
9 
8 
8 
4 
4 
1 
1 
1 
1 
3 
3 
2 
2 
3 
3 
2 
2 
2 
5 
5 
4 
5 
6 
5 
5 
4 
6 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 
4 

176 
176 
304 
316 
325 
320 
335 
278 
221 
149 
148 
25 
24 
24 
24 
129 
127 
126 
126 
130 
154 
154 
149 
155 
155 
275 
309 
309 
430 
468 
508 
506 
594 
568 
c586 
p626 
e626 
626 
626 

0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
0 
26 
0 
0 
0 
0 
120 

Short  Tons 
31,240 
35,240 
25,270 
31,170 
30,168 
21,487 
17,806 
16,596 
13,020 
19,250 
9,000 

io,noo 

4,800 
3,300 
3,800 
3,600 
3,900 
3,591 
6,650 

Per  cent 
41 
42 
45 
43 
43 
48 
46 
55.5 
56.9 
60 
55 
52 
66 
66.7 
57.9 
62.5 
66.7 
43 
35 

Short  tons 

12,700 

14,800 

11,400 

13,400 

13,095 

10,350 

8,103 

9,108 

7,410 

11,583 

5,000 

5,200 

3,170 

2,200 

2,200 

2,250 

2,600 

1,549 

2,325 

a2,370 

b 

b 

b 

b 

4,439 

10,307 

268,693 

372,697 

362,182 

1,276,956 

1,514,504 

1,610,212 

1,764,944 

1,859,553 

1,425,168 

1,686,998 

2,320,400 

2,289,833 

2,285,610 

$      41,950 

45,850 

29,050 

28,200 

25,639 

27,798 

21,487 

19,594 

21,038 

29,764 

11,250 

11.700 

7,133 

4,400 

4,400 

4,500 

5,200 

2,895 

4,686 

a5,565 

b 

b 

b 

b 

9,933 

27,681 

1,205,462 

1,737,464 

1,538,952 

5,361,510 

6,712,550 

6,390,251 

8,069,903 

8,593,581 

5,858,700 

7.016,635 

10,619,066 

14,455,539 

18,625,436 

$3.30 
3.10 
2.55 
2.10 
1.96 
2.68 
2.65 
2.13 
2.84 
2.57 
2.25 
2.25 
2.25 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
2.00 
1.87 
2.02 

b 

b 

b 

b 
2.24 
2.69 
4.48 
4.66 
4.25 
4.20 
4.43 
3.97 
4.57 
4.62 
4.11 
4.16 
4.57 
6.31 
8.15 

8 

1881   ..    

8 

1882 

8 

1883 

9 

1884 

10 

1885     

10 

1886 

11 

1887 

15 

1888 

16 

1889 

13 

1890 

18 

1891 

17 

1892 

18 

1893 

21 

1894 

21 

1895 

20 

1896 

20 

1897 

20 

1898 

19 

1899 

22 

1900 

b 
b 
b 
b 

8,131 

16,821 

362,163 

514,983 

503,359 

1,682,122 

1,972,955 

2,087,870 

2,316,307 

2,481,198 

1,932,132 

2,335,933 

3,182,650 

3,233,669 

3,199,620 

b 

b 

b 

b 
54.6 
61.3 
74.2 
72.3 
72.0 
75.9 
76.8 
77.1 
76.2 
74.9 
73.8 
72.2 
72.9 
70.8 
71.4 

22 

1901 

22 

1902 

22 

1903 

23 

1904 

23 

1905... 

22 

1906   . . 

14 

1907 

280 
140 
40 

10 

1908 

1909 

8 
4 

1910. . . 

4 

1911 

48 

40 

58 

dAO 

4 

1912 

5 

1913 

5 

1914 

1915 

4 

1916 

^ 

1917 

m 

6 

1918 

6 

a  Includes  Indiana. 

b  Less  than  three  producers.    Statistics  concealed. 

c  Includes  253  Semet-Solvay,  315  Koppers,  and  18  Wilputte  ovens. 

d  Semet-Solvay  ovens. 

e  Includes  293  Sement-Solvay,  315  Koppers,  and  18  Wilputte  ovens. 

/"Wilputte  ovens. 


84  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

duced  and  three  years  later  the  beehive  plants  had  been  permanently  dis- 
mantled. 

Some  of  the  most  noteworthy  events  in  the  industry's  recent  history  are 
as  follows : 

1899.  Four  Hemingway  process  experimental  ovens,  which  were  of 
the  beehive  type  but  were  nevertheless  designed  to  save  the  by-products, 
were  completed  in  that  year,  and  26  additional  ovens  were  under  con- 
struction. 

1900.  All  the  coke  produced  in  the  State  was  made  in  the  Hemingway 
ovens  in  Chicago. 

1905.  A  bank  of  120  Semet-Solvay  ovens  was  completed  at  South 
Chicago  and  put  in  blast  in  October,  using  coal  drawn  from  the  fields  of 
Fayette  County,  West  Virginia.  Of  the  four  other  establishments  in  the 
State,  only  one,  the  Gallatin  Coal  and  Coke  Company  of  Equality,  made 
coke  in  1905  and  1906. 

1907.  At  Joliet  280  Koppers  ovens  were  under  construction.  Only,  the 
Semet-Solvay  South  Chicago  plant  and  the  Equality  plant  reported  produc- 
tion. 

1908,  1909.     Koppers  ovens  at  Joliet  put  in  blast. 

1910.     Last  beehive  coke  produced  in  the  State. 

1912.  At  Joliet  35  more  Koppers  ovens  and  at  Waukegan  13  Semet- 
Solvay  ovens  were  put  in  blast. 

1914.  At  Joliet  18  Wilputte  ovens  were  completed. 

1915.  At  South  Chicago  construction  of  new  ovens  brought  the  total 
number  of  Semet-Solvay  ovens  up  to  280. 


CLAY    PRODUCTS 

The  exact  date  of  the  first  use  of  Illinois  clay  must  remain  unknown, 
for  the  Indians  made  use  of  it  long  before  the  coming  of  white  men — wit- 
ness, for  example,  the  description  of  clay  evaporating  pans,  fragments  of 
which  were  found  around  the  brine  springs  of  Gallatin  County.  But  this 
use  or  even  the  early  use  of  clay  as  a  plaster  for  chinks  in  the  pioneers'  homes 
can  not  be  considered  as  any  real  development  of  the  resources,  and  it  was 
probably  not  until  after  1818  that  systematic  exploitation  began. 

Once  begun,  the  clay  working  industries  developed  with  much  the  same 
rapidity  as  did  the  coal  industry.  During  the  period  when  coal  production 
increased  fourfold,  clay  products  increased  fully  threefold,  both  in  the  pot- 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


X5 


tery  and  in  the  brick  and  tile  subdivisions  of  the  industry.  For  many  years 
now,  brick  and  tile  manufactures  have  far  outranked  pottery.  In  the  early 
days,  however,  the  reverse  was  true,  for  neither  the  great  bulk  of  the  State's 
clay  resources,  nor  the  need  for  brick  for  construction  and  tile  for  drainage, 
were  apparent  while  population  was  still  confined  to  a  large  extent  to  the 
wooded  areas  along  major  stream  lines.  With  expansion  into  the  prairies, 
however,  the  brick  and  tile  phase  soon  outstripped  pottery. 

A  few  words  as  to  the  common  building  brick  and  drain-tile  production 
will  serve  as  a  comment  on  the  whole  industry,  for  these  two  branches  are 
typically  representative. 

Common  brick  is  in  considerable  demand  over  most  of  the  State  because 
of  lack  of  stone  of  suitable  quality  and  in  sufficient  quantity  for  building  pur- 
poses. Draintile,  too,  is  in  almost  state-wide  demand,  because  of  the  natural 
inadequacy  of  drainage  over  a  large  portion  of  the  State  as  a  result  of  gla- 
ciation ;  and  because  even  in  the  unglaciated  areas,  drainage  problems  are 
presented  in  the  broad  floodplains  of  the  Mississippi,  the  Ohio,  the  Wabash, 
and  their  larger  tributaries.  Very  fortunately,  the  need  for  common  brick 
and  draintile  is  well  matched  by  not  far  distant  supplies  of  raw  material 
suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  these  products.     The  relation  is  particularly 


Table  22. — Production  in  short  tons,  and  value  of  fire  clay  and  other  clays  mined  and 

marketed  in  Illinois,  1902-1918 


Year 

Fire  clay- 

Other  clays 

Total 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

1902 

(a) 

36,239 

55,922 

50,922 

44,989 

66,525 

39,075 

45,806 

82,878 

71,479 

92,963 

106,216 

125,071 

93,888 

131,658 

150,655 

133,585 

(a) 

$   38,027 

43,863 

53,726 

50,793 

55,545 

47,039 

73,884 

111,078 

91,623 

110,204 

125,477 

138,876 

120,008 

327,666 

736,568 

372,295 

(a) 
34,799 
33,043 
76,806 
94,715 
57,250 
78,007 
98,254 
105,925 
111,357 
83,595 
88,721 
36,013 
70,016 
66,043 
45,038 
35,597 

(a) 
$35,815 
27,223 
66,684 
81,479 
50,158 
67,443 
76,984 
79,818 
92,203 
82,459 
78,560 
29,478 
49,312 
50,774 
53,021 
41,606 

52,152 
71,038 
88,965 
127,728 
139,704 
123,775 
117,082 
144,060 
188,803 
182,836 
176,558 
194,937 
161,084 
163,904 
197,701 
195,693 
169,182 

$   38,463 

1903 

73,842 
71,086 
120,410 
131,272 
105,703 
114,482 
150,868 
190,896 
183,826 
192,663 
204,037 
168,354 
169,320 
378,440 
789,589 
413,901 

1904 

1905 

1906. .  . 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

a  Concealed  in  "Total.' 


86 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


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MINERAL  RESOURCES  87 

Table  24. — Production  of  brick  and  draintile  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1917 


County 


Adams 

Bureau 

Cass 

Champaign.  .  .  . 

Christian 

Cook 

Edwards 

Fulton 

Hancock 

Iroquois 

Kane 

Kankakee 

Lake 

La  Salle 

Livingston .... 
McDonough.  .  . 

Macoupin 

Madison 

Montgomery .  .  , 

Morgan 

Rock  Island .  .  . 

St.  Clair 

Saline 

Sangamon 

Tazewell 

Vermilion 

White 

Will 

Other  counties6 

State  totals. . .  . 


Common  Brick 


Thousands 


4,538 

1,828 

(a) 

(a) 

1,031 
497,235 

(a) 
5,900 

679 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
21,793 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

8,812 
342 
814 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

5,749 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
28,113 


Value 


38,550 
13,166 

(a) 

(a) 

7,858 
,326,230 

(a) 
40,100 

5,680 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
112,936 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
69,415 

2,741 

6,366 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
39,303 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
226.364 


Draintile 


Value 


$  51,477 

(a) 


14,859 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

61,737 

(a) 
251,750 

(a) 
188,697 

47,516 

74,666 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

24,300 
(a) 
(a) 
8,775 
(a) 
417,921 


738,968        S5, 138,822     $1,314,006       $11,541,330     $17,994,158 


Other  Brick 
and  tile 
products 


Value 


(a) 
$142,232 


(a) 


1,989,863 
143,456 

(a) 
(a) 


(a) 
303,215 


1,359,981 

818,735 
487,078 

(a) 
355,863 

(a) 


46,166 

67,968 

(a) 
270,142 

60,447 
747,002 


(a) 
2,484,841 


Total 
value 


S  38,750 

206,875 

8,570 

23,547 

22,717 

5,331,325 

181,864 

68,162 

38,466 

62,037 

35,602 

738,876 

113,616 

1,573,028 

941,583 

572,844 

27,850 

449,278 

58,403 

11,061 

79,549 

220,507 

33,300 

333,745 

191,863 

1,313,811 

11,785 

2,218,487 

3.086.657 


a  Concealed  in  totals. 

b  Including  Boone,  Clinton,  Douglas.  DeWitt,  Dupage,  Edgar,  Effingham.  Fayette, 
Gallatin,  Greene,  Grundy,  Hamilton,  Henry,  Jackson,  Jersey,  Knox,  Lawrence,  Lee.  Logan, 
McHenry,  McLean,  Macon,  Marion,  Mason,  Massac,  Menard.  Mercer,  Monroe.  Moultrie, 
Ogle,  Peoria,  Pike,  Pulaski,  Randolph,  Richland,  Schuyler,  Scott,  Shelby,  Stark,  Warren, 
Washington,  Williamson,  and  Woodford  counties. 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 
Table  25. — Production  of  brick  and  draintile  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1918 


County 

Common  Brick 

Draintile 

Other  brick 
and  tile 
products 

Total 
value 

Thousands 

Value 

Value 

Value 

Adams.  .         

3,765 

1,240 

554 

200,014 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

9,489 
360 
(a) 
(a) 

3,280 
4,743 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
20,113 

$     36,778 

11,940 

7,310 

1,508,623 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
118,635 
3,850 
(a) 

(a) 

34,200 

38,982 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
196,799 

$   25,300 
11,482 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

$     37,138 

Bureau    .         

175,998 

Christian 

18,792 

Cook 

$   793,661 
69,668 

2,355,804 

Edwards 

99,685 

Fulton 

(a) 

(a) 

40,148 
276,410 
146,850 

34,141 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

60,366 

Hancock    

(a) 

19,239 

Iroquois  . . 

40,248 

Kankakee 

192,269 

1,412,334 

625,936 

587,246 

(a) 
247,885 

527,427 

La  Salle 

1,589,524 

Livingston 

737,985 

McDonough 

637,532 

Macoupin 

13,750 

Madison 

386,520 

Morgan   . 

9,100 

Rock  Island 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 
208,141 
(a) 
1,156,115 

40,907 

St.  Clair 

183,666 

Saline 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

43,400 

Sangamon 

250,523 

Tazewell 

175,508 

Vermilion 

1,884,190 

White.  . 

6,550 
353,507 

14,950 

Other  counties  (b).  .  .  . 

4,246,154 

4,752,682 

State  totals 

365,958 

$3,218,758 

$1,077,861 

$9,806,508 

$14,103,127 

a  Concealed  in  totals. 

b  Including  Boone,  Clinton,  Douglas,  DeWitt,  Dupage,  Edgar,  Effingham,  Fayette, 
Gallatin,  Greene,  Grundy,  Hamilton,  Henry,  Jackson,  Jersey,  Knox,  Lawrence,  Lee,  Logan, 
McHenry,  McLean,  Macon,  Marion,  Mason,  Massac,  Menard,  Mercer,  Monroe,  Moultrie, 
Ogle,  Peoria,  Pike,  Pulaski,  Randolph,  Richland,  Schuyler,  Scott,  Shelby,  Stark,  Warren, 
Washington,  Williamson,  and  Woodford  counties. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  89 

noteworthy  in  the  case  of  draintile:  glaciation  is  responsible  for  poor  drain- 
age conditions,  but  at  the  same  time  glacial  deposits  afford  practically  inex- 
haustible quantities  of  clay  for  draintile  with  which  to  remedy  the  defect. 

In  1918  Cook  County  led  all  others  in  production  of  common  brick, 
with  55  per  cent  of  the  State's  total  production.  Density  of  urban  popula- 
tion and  the  plentiful  supply  of  glacial  clay  explain  the  magnitude  of  the 
industry  here.  Kankakee  County  led  in  draintile  production,  reporting  26 
per  cent  of  the  State's  output.  Extensive  marshes  and  swamps  in  Kankakee 
and  adjoining  counties,  which  need  enormous  quantities  of  tile  for  their  com- 
plete reclamation,  serve  to  insure  leadership  of  that  county  in  this  branch 
of  the  industry.  In  a  lesser  degree  the  same  conditions  that  induce  large 
production  of  brick  and  draintile  in  these  two  counties  operate  over  a  large 
share  of  the  State,  for  in  1918  forty-two  counties  reported  production  of 
draintile  and  forty-six,  common  brick. 

A  significant  feature  of  the  industry  is  the  almost  unbroken  decrease  in 
the  number  of  manufacturers  of  clay  products  from  a  maximum  of  697  in 
1894  to  a  minimum  of  168  in  1918.  In  this  progressive  change  is  one  of 
the  most  marked  examples  of  the  modern  tendency  toward  concentration 
and  centralization  which  is  operating  in  so  many  of  the  mineral  and  other 
industries. 

What  with  raw  materials,  coal  for  kilns,  easy  transportation  to  facilitate 
not  only  marketing  but  also  importation  of  raw  materials  necessary  for  cer- 
tain products,  and  a  market  capable  of  absorbing  enormous  quantities  of 
all  sorts  of  clay  products,  it  is  to  be  expected  that  Illinois  would  rank  high 
among  the  states.  Only  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and  New  Jersey  surpass  it  in 
total  value  of  clay  products,  and  considering  brick  and  tile  production  alone, 
Illinois  takes  third  place  from  New  Jersey. 

CONDITION  OF  THE  INDUSTRY  IN   1917  AND   1918 

The  years  1917  and  1918  brought  unusual  conditions  in  the  clay-work- 
ing as  in  most  industries.  Since  the  country  was  at  war,  structural  work, 
which  in  Illinois  normally  consumes  more  than  60  per  cent  of  the  clay  prod- 
ucts, used  only  53  per  cent  in  1917  and  44  per  cent  in  1918,  these  percentages 
corresponding  to  decreases  of  about  one  million  and  three  and  a  half  million 
dollars  respectively ;  the  clay  products  used  chiefly  in  engineering  works — 
vitrified  paving  brick  or  block  sewer  pipe  and  draintile  suffered  comparable 
decreases ;  and  even  the  refractories  which  were  of  vital  importance  to  many 
industries  related  to  the  war,  decreased  slightly  in  quantity  though  not  in 
value  in  1918  as  compared  with  1917. 

High  cost  and  scarcity  of  materials  and  labor,  and  inadequate  trans- 
portation facilities  are  the  causes  inducing  the  decreases.  The  marked  decline 
in  general  building  on  account  of  war  conditions  and  Government  restric- 
tions is  reflected  in  the  large  decreases  in  clay  products  for  structural  mate- 


90  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

rials.  The  maintenance  of  the  demand  and  the  greatly  increased  prices  of 
refractories  was  due  to  the  demand  for  them  in  the  iron  and  steel  and  allied 
industries. 

Among  the  Government  restrictions  which  affected  the  clay  working 
industries  was  curtailment  of  fuel  supply.  The  Fuel  Administration  allowed 
to  the  operators  percentages  of  their  average  coal  consumption  in  1915,  1916, 
and  1917  as  follows :  50  per  cent  for  common  brick,  paving  brick,  face  brick, 
terra  cotta,  roofing  tile,  floor  and  wall  tile,  and  sanitary  ware ;  75  per  cent 
for  hollow  tile,  sewer  pipe,  draintile  and  flue  lining;  and  85  per  cent  for 
stoneware,  except  chemical  stoneware  which  was  not  restricted.  Statistics 
show  that  whereas  the  average  annual  coal  consumption  by  the  clay  work- 
ing industries  of  Illinois  in  1915,  1916,  and  1917  was  1,064,904  tons,  during 
the  first  half  of  1918,  the  actual  consumption  was  only  236,297  or  a  saving 
of  296,155  tons  in  half  a  year.  It  is  probable  that  the  saving  for  the  whole 
year  would  be  even  greater  comparatively  speaking,  for  many  concerns  chose 
to  operate  at  full  capacity  until  their  fuel  allowance  was  exhausted  and  then 
shut  down  for  the  remainder  of  the  year. 

In  common  brick  production,  Illinois  led  in  1917,  but  was  displaced  by 
Pennsylvania  in  1918.  Illinois'  output  of  common  brick  in  1918  decreased 
373,005,000  bricks,  or  50  per  cent,  and  the  value  decreased  $1,920,064,  or  37 
per  cent  as  compared  with  1917.  It  is  interesting  to  mention  that  the  pro- 
portionate decrease  in  common  brick  production  was  greater  in  Cook  County 
in  1918  than  it  was  in  the  State  at  large,  indicating  that  the  falling  off  in 
building  operations  (where  common  brick  finds  its  almost  exclusive  use) 
was  greater  in  Chicago  than  in  the  smaller  cities  and  towns. 

In  the  production  of  draintile,  Iowa,  Ohio,  Indiana,  and  Illinois,  in  the 
order  given,  continued  to  be  the  leading  states.  All  these  states  reported 
large  decreases  in  1918,  Illinois  for  example  suffering  a  decrease  in  value  of 
$236,145,  or  18  per  cent. 

As  for  many  years,  Illinois  was  the  leading  state  in  production  of  archi- 
tectural terra  cotta,  reporting  31  per  cent  of  the  total  United  States  produc- 
tion in  spite  of  a  decrease  of  $1,229,724  or  60  per  cent  in  1918  as  compared 
with  1917. 

CEMENT 

The  cement  industry  of  Illinois,  like  the  coke  and  the  iron  industries, 
has  two  separate  and  distinct  phases,  the  earlier  based  on  natural  cement 
production,  and  the  more  recent  on  Portland  cement  manufacture. 

At  Utica  on  Illinois  River  the  early  settlers  discovered  abundant  sup- 
plies of  natural  cement  materials,  and  since  1838,  when  the  first  cement  was 
manufactured  in  Illinois  by  James  Clark  of  Utica,  the  plant  has  been  in 
constant  active  operation.  Records  indicate  that  there  were  only  two  other 
cement  plants  in  the  United  States  in  1838,  the  one  at  Fayetteville,  New 
York,  established  in  1818,  and  the  other  at  Shippingsport,  Kentucky,  started 
in   1829. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


91 


Perhaps  no  more  strategic  position  than  the  vicinity  of  Utica  could  be 
imagined  for  such  a  resource :  in  the  ante-railroad  days  Illinois  River  fur- 
nished a  ready  line  of  transportation  to  the  markets  west  and  south  where 
most  of  the  population  lay;  later,  with  the  building  of  the  Illinois  and 
Michigan  Canal,  in  the  construction  of  which  Utica  natural  cement  played 
an  extensive  part,  an  easy  way  was  opened  to  the  markets  in  growing  Chi- 
cago, as  well  as  at  points  east  by  way  of  the  lakes ;  still  later,  the  great 
markets  of  the  prairies  were  opened  when  railroad  lines  focused  themselves 
on  the  La  Salle-Utica  area,  attracted  by  glass-sand  quarries,  cement  plants, 
and  abundant  coal  supply ;  and  from  the  very  first  the  proximity  of  coal  to 
the  cement  deposits  helped  make  the  Utica  area  an  ideal  one  in  which  the 
industry  might  early  begin  and  continue  to  thrive.  Proof  of  the  excellence 
of  conditions  there  is  found  in  the  fact  that  when  Portland  cement  plants 

Table  26. — Portland  cement  industry  in  Illinois,  1900-1918 
(Figures  opposite  P  relate  to  production;  those  opposite  S  to  shipments.) 


Year 

Number  of 
plants 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price 
per  barrel 

1900 P 

1901 P 

1902 P 

1903 P 

1904 P 

1905 P 

1906 P 

1907 P 

1908 P 

1909 P 

1910 P 

1911 P 

1912 f    P 

3 

4 
4 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

5 

4 

5     ■ 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

4 

BarreU 
240,442 
528,925 
767,781 
1,257,500 
1,326,794 
1,545,500 
1,858,403 
2,036,093 
3,211,168 
4,241,392 
4,459,450 
4,582,341 
4,299,357 
4,602,617 
5,083,799 
4,734,540 
5,401,605 
5,284,022 
5,156,869 
5,435,655 
3,642,563 
3,562,659 
4,659,990 
4,378,233 
3,594,038 
3,703,471 

$    300,552 
581,818 
977,541 
1,914,500 
1,449,114 
1,741,150 
2,461,494 
2,632,576 
2,707,044 
3,388,667 
4,119,012 
3,583,301 
3,212,819 
3,444,085 
5,109,218 
4,784,696 
5,007,288 
4,848,522 

$1.25 

1.10 

1.27 

1.52 

1.09 

1.13 

1.33 

1.29 

.84 

.80 

.90 

.79 

1    S 
1913 J     P 

.75 

1    S 
1914 J     P 

1.01 

1     S 
1915 J     P 

.92 

1    S 
1916 J     P 

4,884,026 

.90 

\    S 
1917 J     P 

3,386,431 

.95 

1  s 

1918 J     P 

6,090,158 

1.39 

\  s 

5,695,186 

1.54 

92 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


6 

v 

\ 

j 

\ 

1 

\ 

1 

J 

/ 

1 

1 

1 

j 

\ 

/ 

\ 

2 

/ 

\ 

^ 

/ 

\ 

/ 

\ 

*3 

/ 

/ 

u. 

^ 

0 

/ 

*2 

9 

—  / 

1/ 

\ 

"7 

-J 

Xt 

\ 

/ 

5 

•ju 

\ 

/ 

0*/ 

7 

/ 

/ 

/ 

r 

4aturai 

(_ 

-erf 

\e<A 

V 

18 

85 

18 

90 

, 

5 

79 

oo 

i 

19 

IO 

/. 

5 

/ 

92 

>o 

Fig.  12.     Value  of  natural  and  Portland  cement  in  Illinois,   1888-1918. 

came  into  existence,  they  were  established  early  in  this  very  area,  and  the 
two  branches  have  continued  to  exist  side  by  side  in  La  Salle  County. 

The  natural  cement  industry  in  Illinois  was  one  of  wide  extent  in  the 
past,  shipments  going  far  from  the  State  in  the  days  when  cements  were 
more  difficult  to  obtain  than  they  are  now ;  but  especially  in  the  upbuilding 
of  the  large  cities  of  Illinois  natural  cement  played  an  important  part. 

In  spite  of  the  excellence  of  the  Utica  product,  the  standardization  pos- 
sible in  the  artificial  cement  combines  with  the  far  wider  availability  of  the 
necessary  raw  materials  to  make  the  Portland  cement  industry  supreme. 
The  construction  of  the  Chicago  Portland  Cement  Company's  plant  in  1894 
marked  the  beginning  of  that  phase  of  the  industry  (fig.  12).  The  value  of  the 
300  barrels  produced  that  year  was  $540,  negligible  figures  as  compared  with 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  93 

the  1917  totals  of  more  than  four  and  one-half  million  barrels  and  six  mil- 
lion dollars.  Engineers  were  at  first  slow  to  take  up  with  the  proposed  sub- 
stitute for  the  old,  tried,  natural  cement,  but  when  once  the  Portland  cement 
proved  satisfactory,  the  rapidity  and  steadiness  of  increase  was  phenomenal. 
Five  large  plants,  located  at  Dixon,  Oglesby,  Utica,  and  La  Salle,  are  now 
apparently  somewhat  inadequate;  for  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  estimates 
a  deficiency  in  local  supply  of  2,811,429  barrels  in  1917  and  1,222,265  barrels 
in  1918.  Of  course,  it  must  be  taken  into  account  that  the  deficiency  is  in 
part  or  perhaps  wholly  apparent  only  rather  than  real,  for  there  is  a  large 
importation  of  cement  from  extreme  northwestern  Indiana  into  the  imme- 
diately adjacent  Chicago  district  of  large  population  and  consumption.  So 
centralized  and  carefully  controlled  is  the  cement  industry  that  there  is  no 
danger  of  a  serious  shortage  of  local  cement  supply  for  any  prolonged  period. 

SAND   AND   GRAVEL 

The  sand  and  gravel  resources  of  Illinois  are  enormous — not  only  are 
deposits  of  sands  and  gravels  widespread  in  the  drift  and  associated  glacial 
deposits,  but  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  of  La  Salle,  Lee,  and  Ogle  counties 
constitutes  a  large  and  important  source  of  very  pure  silica  sand  which  finds 
one  of  its  special  uses  in  the  manufacture  of  glass. 

Statistics  of  production  were  not  taken  until  comparatively  recent  years 
and  references  to  sand  and  gravel  are  so  few  in  early  reports  that  it  is  prac- 
tically impossible  to  state  even  an  approximate  date  for  its  first  use  in  the 
State.  However,  it  is  deemed  safe  to  place  the  beginning  of  this  industry 
prior  to  1870. 

Tables  27,  28,  and  29  give  the  present  status  of  the  industry  as  well  as 
can  any  description,  for  they  show  its  widespread  character  and  the  great 
variety  of  uses  to  which  the  product  is  put.  It  is  interesting  to  note  in  addi- 
tion that  Illinois  ranked  first  in  sand  and  gravel  output  in  1917  and  second 
in  1918;   in  value  of  output,  however,  it  ranked  third  in  both  years. 

The  Status  of  Mineral  Industries  in  1868 

The  close  of  the  first  half  of  the  century  in  1868  saw  the  beginning  of 
no  industries  other  than  those  that  have  been  discussed.  By  that  time  the 
foundations  had  been  laid  for  industries  of  prime  importance — coal,  stone, 
clay  products,  and  cement;  and  by  that  time  the  one-time  prosperous  salt 
and  indigenous  iron  industries  were  fast  dying  out,  unable  to  stand  the  com- 
petition with  better  deposits  developed  in  other  states.  In  short,  those  indus- 
tries that  were  based  on  Illinois'  possession  of  abundant  resources  unexcelled 
in  near-by  areas  lived,  while  those  not  so  favored  died.  All  through  the  half 
century  ending  in  1868,  lack  of  adequate  transportation  hampered  develop- 
ment so  markedly  that  the  growth  in  the  following  fifty  years  when  the 
State  was  in  effect  suddenly  freed  from  this  restraint  was  indeed  startling. 


94 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Table  27. — Production  in  short  tons,  and  value  of  sand 


County 

en 

<u 
o 

3 
O 

!_ 

Glass   sand 

Molding  Sand 

Building  Sand 

Grinding  and 
polishing  sand 

Fire  or 

furnace 

sand 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Bond 

5 

10 
5 

19 
3 

23 
4 
3 
8 
6 
5 
9 
9 
4 
3 

10 
9 

30 

165 

32,061 

(a) 

$27,528 
(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

551,378 

327,170 

37,397 

64,843 

(a) 

2,161 

286,806 

67,464 

(a) 
72,835 

(a) 

59,519 

(a) 

218,820 

259,784 

644,597 

(a) 

(a) 

$228,086 

89,992 

18,420 

38,937 

(a) 

1,143 
78,993 
20,306 

(a) 
34,350 

(a) 
31,999 

(a) 

62,789 

98,104 

229,346 

Cook 

26,882 

18,021 

(a) 

Kendall 

(a) 
494,791 

(a) 
$535,516 

(a) 
124,555 

(a) 
$159,495 

554,639 

300,842 

84,577 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

Ogle . . . 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
21,940 

(a) 
11,701 

(a) 

(a) 
24,170 
43,156 

(a) 

(a) 
22,568 
31,966 

Will... 

Winnebago 

(a) 

(a) 

State  total.. .    . 

607,186 

$679,618 

703,208 

$412,626 

2,592,774 

$932,455 

129,605 

$167,414 

(a) 

a  Concealed,  either  in  "State  Total,"  or  with  "Other  Counties." 

b  Including:  Adams,  Alexander,  Boone,  Carroll,  Cass,  Crawford,  DeKalb,  Fayette,  Ford,  Fulton,  Hancock^ 
Henderson,  Jn  Daviess,  Lake,  Logan,  McLean,  Macon,  Mercer,  Pike,  Pulaski,  Putnam,  Randolph,  St.  Clair' 
Schuyler,  Vermilion,  Wabash. 


County 

m 

ZJ 
V 
3 

-v 

O 

Glass  sand 

Molding  sand 

Building  sand 

Grinding  and 
polishing  sand 

Fire  or 

furnace 

sand 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Bond 

6 

5 
4 

12 
3 

25 
3 
3 
7 
4 
8 
9 
4 
7 
9 

35 

41,788 

(a) 

$52,229 

(a) 

(a) 

14,470 

372,646 

136,737 

(a) 

6,054 
(a) 

2,338 

220,098 

(a) 

26,179 

83,777 

54,155 

119,182 

207,927 

588,632 

(a) 

$     6,605 

178,829 

39,160 

(a) 

2,926 
-a) 

783 
74,111 

(a) 
14,383 
38,599 
32,755 
39,766 
82,186 
246,785 

61,595 

(a) 
642,270 

43,707 

(a) 

436,752 

Kendall 

(a) 
645,565 

(a) 
$1,091,527 

45,450 

$136,890 

88,800 

Livingston 

(a) 

(a) 

Ogle 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

Will 

65,392 
38,298 
36,274 

51,738 
35,993 
37,786 

Winnebago 

State  total 

144 

760,835   |$1,273,804 

885,617 

$658,205 

1,832,195 

$756,888 

(a) 

(a) 

88,800 

a  Concealed,  either  in  "State  Total,"  or  with  "Other  Counties." 

b  Including:  Adams,  Alexander,  Boone,  Carroll,  Cass,  Crawford,  De  Kalb,  Fayette,  Hancock,  Jo  Daviess, 
Lake,  Lawrence,  Logan,  Macon,  Madison,  Marshall,  Mercer,  Pike,  Pulaski,  Putnam,  Randolph,  St.  Clair,  Schuyler, 
Vermilion,  Wabash,  White,  Whiteside. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 
nd  gravel  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1917  and  1918 


95 


Fire  or 

furnace 
sand 

Engine 

:  sand 

Paving  sand 

Other 

sands 

Gravel 

Total 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

33,411 

126,927 

827,122 

748,858 

92,388 

1,563,511 

22,410 

7,222 

1,490,218 

105,077 

508,947 

174,710 

250,999 

302,140 

13,970 

1,117,391 

666,911 

1,068,486 

$27,778 

"  (cj  "  ' 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

2,953 
37,855 

$      639 
2,521 

89,582 
215,161 
393,670 

(a) 
161,686 

14,735 

3,361 

197,169 

(a) 

(a) 

88,714 
147,536 
183,644 

(a) 
575,827 
278,340 
298,230 

$41,323 
57,813 
94,678 

(a) 

74,990 

4,926 

1,257 

53,616 

(a) 

(a) 

49,016 

89,245 

108,421 

(a) 

160,633 

96,622 

149,043 

55,336 
293,318 
203,655 

71,740 

$54,360 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

'69,505 

13,102 

1,179,531 
7,776 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 
(a) 

3,250 

750,000 
7,550 
(a) 
11,719 

75,000 
3,658 
(a) 
1,478 

244,661 

(a) 

(a) 

38,921 
202,749 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

49,621 

(c) 

(a) 

(a) 
$17,734 

(a) 
(a) 

85,966 
129,438 

(a) 

(a) 

170,302 

8,838 

316,519 

69,777 

297,557 

(a) 
475,813 

(a) 
122,781 

250,229 

80,509 

$18,933 

499,969 

99,993 

387,754 

(a) 

133,715 

$33,586 

525,434 

$130,515 

1,696,070 

$266,168 

2,647,655 

$981,583 

9,120,698 

$3,658,799 

Fire  or 

:urnace 

sand 

Engine  sand 

Paving  sand 

Other  sands 

Gravel 

Totals 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

42,058 

97,509 

656,488 

384,917 

58,716 

1,620,872 

3,823 

4,168 

426,225 

470,303 

79,354 

232,515 

168,254 

679,508 

407,902 

1,022,794 

$     52,429 

(a) 

(a) 

4,675 
64,239 

$      965 
7,255 

70,714 
195,463 
186,585 

(a) 

19,611 

(a) 

(a) 
174,535 

24,825 

42,156 
138,637 

93,961 
311,175 
146,921 
237,237 

$33,912 
65,357 
57,430 

(a) 

7,777 

(a) 

(a) 
61,348 
12,973 
29,365 
83,349 
68,379 
104,006 
54,640 
66,043 

45,482 

(a) 

(a) 

254,406 

140,297 

49,184 

1,832,463 

$59,825 

173,122 

97,666 

1,354 

(a) 
(a) 

(a) 
(a) 

1,532 

163,463 

309,082 

42,734 

2,696 

61,816 

29,750 

1,409 

263,953 

(a) 

(a) 

43,977 

131,571 

(a) 

(a) 

114,954 

183,759 
14,756 

142,558 

49,216 

1,581 

26,789 

244,726 

174,400 

(a) 

(a) 

5,597 

$   1,521 

475,705 

$59,825 

107,041 

$31,589 

54,925 

$39,937 

937,651 

$276,447 

1,641,820 

$744,579 

6,355,406 

3,980,124 

96 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


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MINERAL  RESOURCES 
Table  29. — Glass  sand  produced  in  Illinois,  1903-1918 


97 


Year 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price  per  ton 

1903 

Short  tons 
255,440 
219,784 
234,391 
238,178 
235,716 
194,722 
224,381 
268,654 
251,907 
323,467 
350,229 
339,551 
566,128 
487,432 
607,186 
760,835 

$153,717 
143,954 
146,605 
156,684 
152,619 
139,172 
153,226 
216,531 
171,978 
225,434 
239,227 
246,803 
299,286 
318,235 
679,618 

1,273,804 

Illinois 
$0.60 
.66 
.63 
.66 
.65 
.71 
.69 
.81 
.68 
.70 
.68 
.73 
.53 
.65 
1.12 
1.48 

United  States 
$1.04 

1904 

.90 

1905 

1.05 

1906 

1.11 

1907 

1.05 

1908 

.96 

1909 

1.05 

1910 

1.04 

1911 

1.01 

1912 

.97 

1913 

1.06 

1914 

.97 

1915 

.85 

1916. . 

.97 

1917. . . 

1.38 

1918 

1.94 

The  Industrial  Period,  1868-1893 
Only  three  minerals,  petroleum,  natural  gas,  and  fluorspar,  were  added 
to  the  list  of  developed  resources  during  the  third  quarter  of  the  century 
from  1868  to  1893.     Of  these,  the  last  has  precedence  in  point  of  age. 

FLUORSPAR 

Until  1896  the  only  production  of  this  mineral  in  the  United  States  was 
from  the  deposits  of  Hardin  County,  which  are  known  the  world  over  as 
among  the  greatest  yet  discovered.  In  1896  mines  were  opened  in  the 
adjacent  Kentucky  district,  and  a  decided  slump  in  Illinois  production  fol- 
lowed for  five  years.  A  strong  revival  of  production  began  about  1902  and 
tonnage  has  increased,  with  considerable  fluctuation,  from  that  time  to  the 
present. 

Fluorspar  is  used  mainly  in  supplying  the  American  market  with  spar 
for  foundry  work  and  steel  making  and  its  production  consequently  increases 
or  decreases  as  the  steel  industry  thrives  or  declines.  Only  a  very  small  frac- 
tion— that  containing  less  than  one  per  cent  silica — can  be  used  in  the  enamel- 
ing, chemical,  and  glass  trades.  A  still  smaller  fraction  of  the  material  is 
sufficiently  flawless  and  in  pieces  of  adequate  size  for  use  in  optical  work. 

The  commercial  importance  of  the  Illinois  fluorspar  district  is  bound  to 
grow  with  the  expansion  of  steel  manufacture,  for  not  only  are  the  deposits 
of  this  State  unexcelled,  but  they  are  nearer  great  steel  manufacturing  cen- 
ters than  are  the  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  New  Hampshire  mines. 


98  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 

In  1917,  Illinois  produced  72  per  cent  and  in  1918,  50  per  cent  of  the 
United  States  total.  Illinois  was  one  of  the  two  fluorspar  shipping  states  out 
of  the  eight  producers  that  reported  decreased  output  in  1918.  In  Illinois 
this  was  caused  by  the  flooding  of  the  mines  of  one  of  the  largest  operators 
and  the  incompetency  of  the  available  labor  in  Hardin  County  at  the  time. 

In  the  United  States  as  a  whole  the  average  price  per  ton  of  all  grades 
of  spar  at  the  mine  was  $20.72  in  1918  as  compared  with  $10.45  in  1917, 
an  increase  of  98  per  cent.  Average  prices  in  the  Illinois-Kentucky  district 
would  have  been  even  higher  than  they  were,  had  not  some  companies  con- 
tinued carrying  out  old  contracts  at  prices  from  $5  to  $10  per  ton.  Maxi- 
mum prices  paid  for  spar  for  prompt  delivery  were  in  some  instances  $38 
to  $45  a  ton.  This  rise  in  prices  accounts  for  the  fact  that  although  the  out- 
put was  decreased  8f/2  per  cent,  the  total  value  increased  110  per  cent. 

PETROLEUM   AND   NATURAL  GAS 

In  August,  1859,  the  first  oil  well  in  the  United  States  was  drilled  near 
Titusville,  Pennsylvania,  but  the  resultant  country-wide  oil  fever  of  the  60's 
spread  into  Illinois  without  the  discovery  of  anything  but  showings  of  oil 
at  two  or  three  places.  Several  wells  drilled  in  1865  in  Parker  Township, 
near  Casey,  Clark  County,  failed,  probably  because  of  lack  of  knowledge  of 
best  methods.  Presumably,  if  proper  casing  had  been  used,  salt  water  would 
have  been  shut  off,  the  oil  would  not  have  been  "drowned,"  and  an  earlier 
discovery  of  the  southeastern  fields  would  have  been  made.  A  second  spread 
of  oil  fever  during  the  80's  resulted  in  production  of  oil  at  Litchfield,  of  gas 
at  Sparta,  and  the  discovery,  though  not  the  utilization  of  gas,  near  Pitts- 
field.  Again,  in  the  early  years  of  the  twentieth  century  a  wave  of  oil 
excitement  encouraged  drilling.  In  1903  the  renewed  interest  led  to  exten- 
sive drilling  for  the  gas  at  Pittsfield  first  discovered  in  1886. 

During  the  years  from  1900  to  1904  inclusive,  several  tests  in  Craw- 
ford County  were  made,  though  without  success.  Finally  in  the  spring  of 
1904,  Colonel  Carter  of  Oakland  engaged  J.  J.  Hoblitzel  and  Son  of  Penn- 
sylvania to  drill  a  well  on  the  Young  farm  in  Parker  Township,  Clark 
County,  where  earlier  prospecting  in  1865  had  revealed  good  showings. 
Although  oil  was  found  the  well  was  not  pumped,  but  instead  the  gas  was 
used  for  drilling  a  second  well  near  by  which  produced  35  barrels  of  oil. 
About  100  square  miles  was  being  drilled  in  Clark  County  in  1905  as  a 
result  of  these  two  wells,  of  which  about  sixty  square  miles  proved  pro- 
ductive. Invigorated  by  Clark  County  success,  prospecting  was  renewed  in 
Crawford  County  with  the  result  that  a  250-barrel  well  was  completed  in 
1906  on  the  Shire  farm  near  Robinson,  in  Oblong  Township.  This  well  was 
the  predecessor  of  the  thousands  of  successful  wells  which  soon  gave  to  Illi- 
nois third  rank  in  the  United  States  in  oil  production.  To  date  about  300,- 
000,000  barrels  of  oil  have  been  taken  from  the  Lawrence-Crawford-Clark 
county  fields  and  although  production  is  now  on  the  decrease,  it  is  probable 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


99 


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100  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Table  31. — -Marketed  production  of  petroleum  in  Illinois,  1889-1918 


Marketed 
production 

Percentage 
of  total 

U.  S.  pro- 
duction 

Increase  or  decrease 

Value 

Yearly 
average 

Year 

Barrels 

Per  cent 

price  per 
barrel 

1889    . 

1,460 
900 
675 
521 
400 
300 
200 
250 
500 
360 
360 
200 
250 
200 

$         4,906 
3,000 
2,363 
1,823 
1,400 
1,800 
1,200 
1,250 
2,000 
1,800 
1,800 
1,000 
1,250 
1,000 

$3  360 

1890 

560 
225 
154 
121 
100 
100 
+              50 
+            250 
140 

38.36 

25.00 

22.81 

23.22 

25.00 

33.33 

+        25.00 

+      100.00 

-        28.00 

3  333 

1891 

3  500 

1892 

3  500 

1893 

3  500 

1894 

6  000 

1895 

6  000 

1896 

5  000 

1897    . 

4  000 

1898    . 

5  000 

1899 

5  000 

1900 

160 

+              50 

50 

200 

44.44 
+        25.00 

-  20.00 

-  100.00 

5  000 

1901. . 

5  000 

1902 

5  000 

1903 

1904. .  .  . 

1905 .  . 

181,084 
4,397,050 
24,281,973 
33,686,238 
30,898,339 
33,143,362 
31,317,038 
28,601,308 
23,893,899 
21,919,749 
19,041,695 
17,714,235 
15,776,860 
13,365,974 

0.13 

3.47 

14.62 

18.87 

16.87 

15.82 

14.21 

12.83 

9.62 

8.25 

6.77 

5.89 

4.70 

3.76 

+       181,084 
+   4,215,966 
+  19,884,923 
+   9,404,265 

-  2,787,899 
+    2,244,923 

-  1,826,224 

-  2,715,730 

-  4,707,409 

-  1,974,150 

-  2,878,054 

-  1,327,460 

-  1,937,375 

-  2,410,886 

116,561 
3,274,818 
16,432,947 
22,649,561 
19,788,864 
19,669,383 
19,734,339 
24,332,605 
30,971,910 
25,426,179 
18,655,850 
29,237,168 
31,358,069 
31,230,000 

644 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

+  2,328.18 

+      452.23 

+        38.73 

8.28 

+          7.27 

5.51 

8.67 

16.45 

8.26 

13.13 

6.97 

10.94 

15.28 

.745 

.677 

.672 

.64C 

.593 

.639 

.851 

1.296 

1.160 

.980 

1 .  650 

1.988 

2.337 

that  these  same  fields  will  yield  almost  this  same  amount  before  they  are 
completely  exhausted. 

The  opening  of  the  southeastern  fields  stimulated  drilling  in  many  parts 
of  the  State.  In  1907  and  1908  tests  at  Sparta  met  with  success  to  the  extent 
of  six  or  seven  wells,  the  largest  of  which  had  an  initial  production  of  about 
100  barrels.  The  field  is  now  exhausted,  however.  In  1909  and  1910  drill- 
ing in  the  vicinity  of  Centralia  and  Sandoval  opened  up  a  small  but  good  field 
which  is  still  producing.  About  the  same  time  small  gas  fields  with  a  little 
oil  were  opened  at  Carlinville  and  Jacksonville,  and  a  little  later,  in  1911,  a 
small  oil  field   was  developed  at   Carlyle.     The   Colmar-Plymouth  oil   field 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  101 

Table  32. — Record  of  natural  gas  industry  in  Illinois,  1906-1918 


Num- 
ber of 
pro- 
ducers 

Volume 

(M  cubic 

feet) 

Numl 

">er  of 

Value 
of  gas 
con- 
sumed 

Wells 

Year 

consumers 

Drilled 

Produc- 
tive 
Dec.  31 

Domestic 

Indust'l 

Gas 

Dry 

1906 

66 
128 
185 
194 
207 
225 
223 
231 
235 
221 
218 
225 
186 

409,556 
1,154,344 
4,978,879 
8,472,860 
6,723,286 
6,762,361 
5,603,368 
4,767,128 
3,547,841 
2,690,593 
3,533,701 
4,439,016 
4,473,018 

1,429 

2,126 

"7,377 

"8,458 

"10,109 

"10,078 

"10,691 

a10,423 

a8,952 

a8,610 

"14,485 

°1 1,622 

a8,669 

2 
61 
"204 
"518 
a261 
a293 
"212 
a279 
"153 
a134 
a121 
a118 
a90 

$  87,211 
143,577 
a446,077 
a644,401 
"613,642 
"687,726 
"616,467 
"574,015 
"437,275 
"350,371 
a396,357 
a479,072 
a620,949 

200 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

94 
121 
56 
64 
69 
56 
60 
38 
28 
36 
18 
11 

41 

42 

11 

31 

78 

147 

119 

114 

67 

126 

58 

21 

283 
400 
423 
458 
458 
453 
455 
417 
378 
343 
287 
254 

"Includes  number  of  consumers  and  value  of  gas  consumed  in  Vincennes,  Indiana. 

(1914),  the  Staunton  gas  field  (1915),  the  small  Spanish  Needle  Creek  oil 
field  (1916),  and  the  Ava  gas  field  (1917)  have  also  helped  swell  the  State 
production,  but  unless  new  fields  in  large  number  or  of  large  capacity  are 
discovered  to  offset  the  natural  decline  of  present  producing  areas,  the 
decline  will  continue  without  break.  For  the  time  being,  however,  the  oil 
and  gas  industry  in  Illinois  is  of  major  importance,  as  statistics  for  1917 
and  1918  show.  Of  natural  gas  the  State  produced  almost  four  and  one- 
half  billion  cubic  feet,  valued  at  almost  $500,000,  while  of  petroleum  it  pro- 
duced more  than  13,000,000  barrels,  valued  at  more  than  $31,000,000.  Indis- 
putable testimony  to  the  excellence  of  Illinois  oil  is  the  fact  that  for  some 
years  its  value  has  kept  it  one  notch  higher  in  the  scale  of  states  based  on 
total  value  of  production  than  it  is  on  the  basis  of  quantity  produced. 

The  enormous  risk  of  capital  involved  in  oil  and  gas  prospecting  and 
the  great  cost  of  pipe  lines  and  refining  plants  make  it  clear  that  the  petro- 
leum industry  does  not  belong  to  a  frontier  civilization,  and  helps  to  show 
why  even  slight  development  was  delayed  till  1882  and  maximum  productive- 
ness until  1904,  near  the  close  of  the  hundred  years  succeeding  the  admis- 
sion of  Illinois  to  statehood. 

More  detailed  information  as  to  the  development  of  petroleum  resources 
in  Illinois  during  1917  and  1918  are  to  be  found  elsewhere  in  Survey  publi- 
cations.1 

Modern  Period,  1893-1918 

Silica  (tripoli),  mineral  paints,  pyrite,  sulphuric  acid,  asphalt,  and 
natural-gas  gasoline  comprise  the  list  of  industries  which  had  their  begin- 


102  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

ning  in  the  years  between  1893  and  1918.  These  industries  are  all  ones 
which  either  required  large  capital  for  their  development,  or  else  depended 
on  other  industries  for  their  existence.  In  this  connection,  it  will  be  well 
to  recall  that  the  revolutionizing  of  three  of  the  old  and  very  important 
industries  of  the  State  came  during  this  period  and  for  much  the  same  rea- 
sons as  have  been  given  above :  the  small  early  phase  of  the  coke  industry 
based  on  local  coal  and  beehive  ovens  gave  way  to  the  enormous  present- 
day  industry  of  coking  coal  shipped  in  from  the  east  in  great  batteries  of 
by-product  ovens  located  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  State ;  the  extinct  early 
iron  industry  that  reduced  Illinois  ore  was  brought  to  life  again  using  iron 
ore  shipped  from  the  Lake  Superior  region,  as  a  huge  industry  employing 
thousands  of  men,  occupying  modernly  equipped  plants,  acres  in  extent ; 
and  the  early  cement  industry,  which  developed  the  natural  cement  deposits 
was  overshadowed  by  a  prodigiously  greater  Portland  cement  industry, 
requiring  massive  equipment  and  large  production  if  it  is  to  exist  profitably 
at  all. 

The  statements  as  to  the  mineral  industries  developed  in  the  modern 
period  will  be  brief. 

SULPHURIC   ACID 

Sulphuric  acid  produced  in  Illinois  is  a  by-product  of  zinc  smelting  at 
La  Salle,  Peru,  Collinsville,  and  Danville,  in  which  process  the  waste  gases, 
sulphur  dioxide  and  sulphur  trioxide,  are  converted  into  acid.  A  product 
which  as  waste  would  be  extremely  harmful,  is  thus  turned  to  good  account, 
its  value  in  1918  amounting  to  several  million  dollars.  Geographic  and 
geologic  conditions  have  combined  to  locate  the  industry  at  the  four  towns 
mentioned — zinc  ore  is  shipped  from  other  states  to  these  points  because  of 
the  abundance  of  coal  and  the  adequacy  of  transportation. 

Most  of  the  acid  finds  its  use  in  the  manufacture  of  fertilizers  ;  the 
refining  of  petroleum  products ;  the  iron,  steel,  and  coke  industries ;  the 
manufacture  of  nitrocellulose,  nitroglycerine,  celluloid,  etc. ;  and  general 
metallurgic  and  chemical  practice. 

ASPHALT 

Asphalt  is  another  by-product  which  swells  the  total  of  Illinois'  mineral 
values  by  more  than  a  million  dollars  annually.  The  figure  includes  only 
asphalt  obtained  in  refining  oil,  not  taking  into  account  the  far  larger  quan- 
tities produced  in  Illinois  refineries  working  oil  from  the  southwestern  states. 
Road  oil  and  flux  are  the  principal  uses  of  asphalt. 

MINERAL    PIGMENTS 

In  1918  lead  and  zinc  pigments  were  made  in  Illinois  at  Collinsville, 
East  St.  Louis,  Chicago,  and  Argo,  but  only  at  Collinsville  was  pigment 
made  directly  from  the  ore.     Again  geologic  and  geographic  conditions,  as 


iOil  Investigations  in  Illinois,   1917  and  1918:    111.   State  Geol.  Bull.   40,   191! 


MINERAL  RESOURCES 


103 


expressed  in  abundance  of  coal  and  in  adequate  transportation  from  the  lead 
and  zinc  mines  outside  the  State,  have  determined  the  location  of  the  industry. 

TRIPOLI 

Tripoli  is  a  form  of  silica  which  finds  varied  uses  as  a  paint,  wood  filler, 
metal  polish,  in  soaps,  cleansers,  glass  and  pottery  manufacture,  and  for  fac- 
ing foundry  molds.     The  large  deposits  of  Union  and  Alexander  counties 

Table  33.— Tripoli  produced  and  sold  in  the  United  States,  1917-1918 


1917 

1918 

Quantity 
(short 
tons) 

Value 

Value 

State 

Esti- 
mated 
(crude) 

As  sold 

(crude 

and 

finished) 

Quantity 
(short 
tons) 

Esti- 
mated 
(crude) 

As  sold 

(crude 

and 

finished1) 

16,133 
9,936 

$31,338 
61,078 

$207,738 
130,450 

12,004 

7,978 

$18,902 
34,913 

$100,126 

Missouri,  Oklahoma  and  Pennsylvania 

99,728 

26,069 

$92,416 

$338,188 

19,982 

$53,815 

$199,854 

have  been  worked  more  or  less  extensively  for  the  past  twenty  years  and 
from  them  has  come  more  than  half  of  the  United  States  production.  The 
amount  produced  annually  varies  considerably,  but  the  value  for  1918,  $100,- 
126,  is  not  below  the  average. 

PYRITE 

Somewhat  younger  than  the  tripoli  is  the  pyrite  industry  (Table  34), 
dating  from  about  1907,  so  far  as  statistics  show.  Especially  in  Vermilion 
County,  where  production  was  almost  100  per  cent  of  the  State's  total,  is 
the  industry  developed,  since  the  pyrite  can  be  easily  saved  incidental  to 
coal  mining,  as  it  occurs  in  the  coal  of  this  district  in  distinct  lenses  and 
bands  instead  of  being  finely  disseminated  throughout  the  coal  as  it  is  in 
most  parts  of  the  State.  That  24,369  tons  worth  $85,659  were  marketed  in 
1918  shows  the  possibilities  of  an  industry  that  is  merely  incidental.  Pyrite 
is  used  in  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid,  a  product  of  great  importance 
at  all  times,  but  especially  necessary  in  war  time. 

PEAT 

So  uneven  was  the  surface  of  the  drift  sheet  spread  over  Illinois  by 
glacial  ice,  that  a  large  percentage  of  the  northern  half  of  the  State  was  in 
its  original  state  very  poorly  drained.  Beds  of  peat  were  formed  in  the 
marshes,  bogs,  and  swamps  and  were  originally  widespread  in  northern  Illi- 
nois, notably  in  the  Kankakee  marshes,  in  Lee  and  Whiteside  counties  along 
Green  River,  and  locally  along  Illinois  River.  Of  recent  years  artificial 
drainage  has  been  developed  so  rapidly  in  the  course  of  reclamation  of  the 
swamp  lands  for  agricultural  purposes,  that  most  of  the  beds  which  were 


104  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Table  34. — Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pyrite  mined  in  Illinois,  1909-1918 


Year 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price . 
per  ton 

1909 

5,600 
8,541 
17,441 
27,008 
11,246 
22,538 
14,849 
20,482 
24,596 
24,369 

$17,551 
28,159 
47,020 
62,980 
31,966 
59,079 
22,476 
51,432 
89,998 
85,659 

$2.60 

1910 

3.30 

1911 

2.70 

1912 

2.33 

1913 

2.84 

1914 

2.62 

1915 

1.51 

1916 

2.51 

1917 

3.66 

1918 

3.52 

still  in  good  condition  twenty  or  thirty  years  ago  have  so  deteriorated  as  to 
no  longer  have  value  as  peat.  Of  course  the  draining  of  the  bogs  and  sub- 
sequent decay  of  the  peat  results  in  the  formation  of  rich  soil,  the  tillage 
of  which  gives  greater  ultimate  value  than  would  development  of  the  peat 
as  such. 

However,  at  two  locations  in  the  State  conditions  have  been  deemed  to 
warrant  exploitation  of  the  peat  as  a  source  of  fertilizer  and  stock  feed. 
Near  Manito,  Mason  County,  the  Wiedmer  Chemical  Company  has  been  suc- 
cessfully working  a  large  deposit  since  1905  ;  and  near  Sollars,  Whiteside 
County,  the  American  Peat  Products  Company  has  been  commercially  work- 
ing a  ten-acre  tract  in  the  Cattail  Valley,  a  streamless  depression  which,  leav- 
ing the  Mississippi  Valley  southeast  of  Fulton,  passes  southeast  to  Rock 
River  Valley.  The  Cattail  Valley  is  underlain  by  peat  which  attains  a  maxi- 
mum thickness  of  25  to  30  feet  in  places.1 

NATURAL-GAS    GASOLINE 

The  youngest  mineral  industry  to  attain  real  importance  in  the  State 
is  the  extraction  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas.  The  story  of  the  industry, 
especially  the  rapidity  of  its  rise,  is  best  told  in  the  accompanying  table.  Just 
so  long  as  natural  gas  production  remains  large,  the  industry  will  thrive,  for 
it  is  on  a  sound  basis  in  that  it  represents  a  means  of  turning  what  would 
otherwise  be  wasted  into  a  valuable  product.  Those  who  developed  the 
process  deserve  great  credit  for  their  work,  for  it  is  helping  to  bring  about 
true  conservation  of  the  resource. 

The  decline  in  1918  (Table  35)  is  indicative  of  what  may  be  expected 
for  the  future  of  this  industry — as  natural  gas  production  decreases,  the 
production  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  will  become  proportionally  less.  In 
the  meantime,  however,  values  are  still  so  high — 4,574,565  gallons  valued 


iCarman,  J.  Ernest,  The  Mississippi  vallev  between  Savanna  and  Davenport :    111.  State 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  13,  p.  86,  1909. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  105 

Table  35. — Production  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  in  Illinois,  1913-1918 


Number  of  plants 

Quantity gal. 

Value 

Price  per  gallon cents 

Gas  used M  cu.  ft. 

Average  yield  per  Mcu.  ft.  gal. 


1913 


12 

581,171 

$67,106 

11.54 

160,304 

3.63 


1914 


14 

1,164,178 

$100,331 

8.62 

462,321 

2.52 


1915 


16 

1,035,204 

$80,049 

7.73 

552,054 

2.29 


1916 


32 

2,260,288 

$262,664 

11.58 

1,338,594 

1.69 


1917 


55 
4,934,009 
$866,033 


2,685,895 
1.84 


1918 

72 
4,574,565 
$890,436 


2,316,646 
1.97 


at  $890,436 — that  this  youngest  industry  of  all  is  one  of  no  mean  importance. 
Industries  of  the  Future 

It  is  not  to  make  a  prophecy  about  the  growth  of  established  industries 
that  this  section  in  the  future  is  included,  but  merely  to  mention  certain 
resources  which  seem  on  the  way  to  development  at  the  present  time. 

A  fuller's  earth  deposit  (see  page  336)  at  Olmsted  is  receiving  favorable 
attention  frcm  an  cil  company  as  a  possible  source  of  this  material  for  use 
in  its  refineries. 

Production  of  barite,  which  mineral  is  found  associated  with  fluorspal 
in  Hardin  County1,  has  been  contemplated  by  one  company  for  several  years 
The  mineral  if  marketed  will  probably  find  its  chief  use  as  a  mineral  pigment. 

Potash  in  large  quantities  may  be  recovered  as  by-products  in  blast 
furnace  and  cement  plant  operation,  a  possibility  which  is  receiving  general 
consideration  at  the  present  time.2 

The  Mountain  Glen  shale  of  Union  County  (see  page  310)  and  the 
Decorah  shale  of  Lee  County  have  possibilities  as  sources  of  potash,  espe- 
cially if  satisfactory  processes  of  extraction  or  better  methods  of  use  can 
be  developed.3  Attention  might  well  be  called  to  the  fact  here  that  where 
a  choice  is  to  be  had,  a  shale  high  in  potash  is  better  for  use  in  Portland 
cement  manufacture  because  of  the  possibility  of  obtaining  the  potash  as  a 
profitable  by-product. 

Comparison    of   the    Earlier-Developed    Mineral    Resources 
with  Those  of  Later  Years 

It  is  readily  recognized  that  the  nine  mineral  industries  which  have 
originated  in  Illinois  during  the  fifty  years  since  1868  differ  greatly  in  char- 
acter from  those  industries  originated  in  the  earlier  half  of  the  century. 
Every  one  of  them  is  an  industry  requiring  at  least  one  of  the  following 
factors  for  its  development :  large  population  to  afford  market,  adequate 
transportation  facilities,  an  advanced  stage  in  the  manufacturing  industry, 


iW7eller,  Stuart,  and  others ;  Geology  of  Hardin  County  and  the  adjoining  part  of 
Pope  County:     111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  41,  p.   254,  1920. 

ZHicks,  W.  B.,  Potash :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources  of  the  United 
States,  1918,  Pt.  II,  pp.  406-408,  1921. 

3Austin,  Parr,  Krey,  and  Stewart,  Potash  shales  of  Illinois  ;  University  of  Illinois 
Agricultural  Exp.  Station  Bull.  232,  1921. 


106  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

or  abundant  capital  for  establishment  and  upkeep.  Clearly  none  of  them 
could  be  a  frontier  industry.  The  contrast  presented  by  the  earlier  group 
in  comparison  with  the  later  is,  then,  a  strong  one :  on  the  one  hand,  the 
older  industries,  though  now  no  longer  of  frontier  character,  were  developed 
under  frontier  conditions  and  persisted  through  the  frontier  period,  proving 
their  adaptability  to  such  conditions ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  the  younger 
industries  were  not  adapted  to  and  could  not  have  been  established  in  pioneer 
times.  The  older  industries  were,  very  logically,  the  development  of  min- 
eral resources  necessary  to  the  simplest  forms  of  living  in  a  frontier  coun- 
try, having  to  do  with  fuel  and  structural  materials ;  the  younger  industries 
involved  the  development  of  resources  necessary  only  to  a  higher  civilization 
and  possible  only  after  frontier  conditions  had  disappeared. 

ILLINOIS'    MINERAL    RESOURCES    AND    THE    WAR 

A  final  word  in  regard  to  the  response  of  Illinois  to  demands  placed  on 
mineral  resources  of  many  kinds  by  the  war  may  be  pertinent.  The  remark- 
able increase  in  production  along  many  lines  in  1916,  1917,  and  1918,  offers 
general  evidence.  The  end  of  the  production  curve  for  coal  presents  a 
picture  of  what  happened  in  those  years  not  only  in  coal  but  in  aggregate 
mineral  industry  as  well,  but  a  few  specific  instances  will  show  this  in 
greater   detail. 

Even  before  the  United  States  entered  the  war  two  Illinois  industries, 
fluorspar  and  clay,  were  directly  affected  by  the  stoppage  of  German  trad- 
ing. Before  the  war  the  whole  supply  of  clear,  colorless,  flawless  pieces 
for  optical  instruments  for  scientific  work  passed  through  the  hands  of 
German  optical  dealers,  and  its  stoppage  promised  to  be  a  serious  matter. 
At  once,  however,  Illinois  producers  and  the  country's  optical  manufac- 
turers were  informed  of  the  need  and  of  the  source  of  supply  in  Hardin 
County,1  and  the  danger  was  averted. 

The  cutting  off  of  certain  German  refractory  clays  directed  attention 
to  deposits  in  southwestern  Illinois,  and  geologists  and  ceramic  engineers 
soon  found  that  one  variety  of  Union  County  clay  was  even  superior  to  that 
formerly  sought  in  Germany.     And  so  another  gap  was  stopped. 

Almost  immediately  upon  our  entrance  into  the  war  the  small  fleet  of 
ships  plying  between  Spain  and  the  United  States  and  bringing  back  quan- 
tities of  pyrite  from  the  rich  Spanish  deposits  were  arbitrarily  transferred 
to  service  more  essential  to  the  winning  of  the  war.  Since  pyrite  is  a  source 
of  sulphuric  acid,  which  is  not  only  vital  to  industry  in  general  but  to  manu- 
facture of  explosives  in  particular,  at  first  glance  the  action  of  the  Govern- 
ment seems  a  strange  step.  But  the  administration,  knowing  well  that  ade- 
quate supplies  existed  undeveloped  in  this  country,  rightly  surmised  that 
producers  would  rise  to  meet  the  need.     Furthermore,  zinc   smelting  was 


iPoa-ue.  Joseph  E.,  Optical   fluorite  in  southern  Illinois  :    111.   State  Geol.   Survey  Bull. 
I,  pp.  419,  1917. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  107 

revived  in  connection  with  war  manufacture  and  the  sulphuric  acid  by-prod- 
uct of  this  process  was  bound  to  increase  in  quantity.  In  both  phases  of 
the  increase  Illinois  had  a  part,  for  the  zinc  smelters  of  the  State  increased 
their  production,  and  coal  operators  took  advantage  of  the  opportunity  to 
save  pyrite,  hitherto  considered  only  as  a  waste ;  thus  they  increased  their 
earnings  while  mining  a  cleaner,  better  coal  and  supplying  a  raw  material 
without  whose  manufactured  product  our  part  of  the  war  could  not  have 
been  effectively  carried  on. 

Another  effort  to  conserve  was  the  attempt  to  substitute  Illinois,  Indiana, 
and  western  Kentucky  low-sulphur  coals  wholly  or  in  part  for  coal  and 
coke  from  the  east,  hitherto  used  exclusively  in  the  important  coal-  and 
water-gas  industry.  Curtailment  of  the  eastern  supply  by  order  of  the 
United  States  Fuel  and  Railroad  administrations  was  directly  responsible 
for  the  attempt,  but  it  is  probable  that  experiments  and  investigations  begun 
with  the  aid  of  gas  engineers  and  geologists  will  continue,  with  the  eventual 
result  of  a  permanent  decrease  in  the  dependence  of  Illinois  on  the  east,  and 
a  proportionate  saving  of  energy  in  transportation  of  coal  and  coke  from 
Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia. 

The  most  phenomenal  increase  in  production  was  that  of  coal,  and  the 
work  of  Illinois  miners  deserved  the  high  praise  granted  it  by  the  Fuel 
Administration,  for  not  infrequently  when  other  states  were  behind  in  their 
apportionments,  Illinois  had  enough  and  to  spare.  There  is  no  need  to 
mention  the  important  effect  adequate  fuel  production  has  on  power  to 
increase  manufactures  that  they  may  stand  the  strain  of  excessive  war-time 
production.  A  fitting  climax,  indeed,  to  the  first  century  of  mineral  pro- 
duction in  Illinois  is  found  in  the  realization  that  the  mineral  industries  of 
the  State  did  not  fail  to  play  their  full  part  in  successful  prosecution  of 
the  war. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

It  is  believed  that  the  following  bibliography  will  be  of  help  to  many 
desiring  information  in  regard  to  the  mineral  industries  of  the  State,  as 
numerous  requests  are  received  daily  by  the  Survey  for  such  references  as 
are  here  given. 

COAL1 

Preliminary  report  on  organization  and  method  of  investigations  :  111.  Coal 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.  1,  1913. 

Andros,  S.  O.,  Coal  mining  practice  in  District  VIII  (Danville)  :  111.  Coal  Mining 
Investigations  Bull.  2,  1913. 

Coal  mining  practice  in  District  VII  (southwestern  Illinois)  :  111.  Coal  Min- 
ing Investigations  Bull.  4,  1914. 


iFor  other  publications  on  Illinois  coal  and  related  problems  see  bulletins  and  circulars 
of  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  and  the  Mining  Department  described  in  the  List  of 
Publications  of  the  University  of  Illinois. 


108  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Coal  mining  practice  in  District  I    (Longwall)  :    111.  Coal  Mining  Investiga- 


tions Bull.  5,  1914. 

Coal  mining  practice  in  District  V   (Saline  and  Gallatin  counties)  :    111.  Coal 

Mining  Investigations  Bull.  6,  1914. 

Coal    mining   practice    in    District    II    (Jackson    County)  :     111.    Coal    Mining- 
Investigations  Bull.  7,  1914. 

Coal  mining  practice  in  District  VI   (Franklin,  Jackson,  Perry,  and  William- 
son counties)  :    111.   Coal    Mining   Investigations   Bull.  8,    1914. 

Coal   mining   practice   in   District   III    (western   Illinois)  :     111.    Coal   Mining 

Investigations  Bull.  9,  1915. 

Coal    mining   practice    in    District    IV    (central    Illinois)  :     111.    Coal    Mining 

Investigations  Bull.  12,  1915. 

Coal  mining  in  Illinois:    111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bull.  13,  1915. 


Bement,  A.,  Illinois  coal  field  :    111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  182,  1910. 

Cady,  G.  H.,  Geology  and  coal  resources  of  West  Frankfort  quadrangle  :    111.   State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  242,  1910. 
Coal   resources   of   District   I    (Longwall)  :     111.   Coal   Mining   Investigations 

Bull.  10,  1914. 
Coal   resources   of    District   VI    (Franklin,   Jefferson,   and   Williamson   coun- 


ties) :    111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bull.  15.  1916. 

Coal  resources  of  District  II    (Jackson  County)  :    111.  Coal  Mining  Investi- 
gations Bull.  16,  1917. 

Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Hennepin  and  La  Salle  quadrangles  : 

111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  37,  1919. 
Mines  producing  low-sulphur  coal   in  the  central   district :    111.   Coal   Mining 


Investigations  Bull.  23,  1919. 

Low-sulphur  coal  in  Illinois:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  432,  1922. 

DeWolf,  F.  W.,  Coal  investigations  in  the  Saline-Gallatin  field  :  111.  State  Geol.  Sur- 
vey Bull.  8,  p.  121,  1907. 

Coal  investigations  in  Saline  and  Williamson  counties :  111.  State  Geol.  Sur- 
vey Bull.  8,  p.  230,  1907. 

Kay,  F.  H.,  Coal  resources  of  District  VII  (southwestern  Illinois)  :  111.  Coal  Mining 
Investigations  Bull.  11,  1914. 

Coal  resources  of  District  VIII   (Danville)  :    111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations 

Bull.  14,  1915. 

Lee,  Wallace,  Coal  in  Gillespie  and  Mount  Olive  quadrangles :  111.  Coal  Mining 
Investigations  Bull.  30,  p.  51,  1917. 

Parr,  S.  W.,  Purchase  and  sale  of  coal  under  specifications  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  29,  1914. 

Chemical    study    of    Illinois   coal :     111.    Coal    Mining    Investigations    Bull.   3, 

1915. 

Savage,  T.  E.,  Geology  and  coal  resources  of  the  Herrin  quadrangle  :  111.  State  Geol. 
Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  266,  1910. 

Geology   and    mineral    resources    of   the    Springfield    quadrangle :     111.    State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  20,  p.  97,  1915. 

Geology  and  mineral   resources  of  the  Canton   and   Avon  quadrangles :    111. 


State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  209,  1921. 

and   Udden,   J.    A.,    Geology   and   mineral   resources    of   the    Edgington    and 


Milan  quadrangles:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  115,  1921. 
Shaw.  E.  W.,  Geology  and  coal  resources  of  the  Murphvsboro  quadrangle:  111.  State 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  286,  1910. 


MINERAL   RESOURCES  109 

and  Savage,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Murphysboro-Herrin 

folio  (No.  185),  1912. 

U.    S.    Geological    Survey    Geol.    Atlas,    Tallula-Springfield    folio 

(No.  188),  1913. 

Udden,  J.  A.,  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Peoria  quadrangle  :  U.  S.  Geo- 
logical Survey  Bull.  506,  1912. 

and   Shaw,   E.  W.,   U.   S.   Geological   Survey   Geol.   Atlas,   Belleville-Breese 

folio  (No.  195),  1915. 

Young,  C.  M.,  Percentage  of  extraction  of  bituminous  coal  with  special  reference  to 
Illinois  conditions:  111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bull.  100,  1917. 

Young,  L.  E.,  Surface  subsidence  in  Illinois  resulting  from  coal  mining:  111.  Coal 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.  17,  1916. 

and    Stoek,    H.    H.,    Subsidence    resulting   from    mining :     111.    Coal    Mining 

Investigations  Bull.  91,   1916. 

GAS  AND  COKE 

Cady,  G.  H.,  Mines  producing  low-sulphur  coal  in  the  central  district :  111.  Coal  Mining- 
Investigations  Bull.  23,  1919. 

Dunkley,  W.  A.,  and  Odell,  W.  W.,  The  manufacture  of  retort  coal-gas  in  the 
central  district  using  low-sulphur  coal  from  Illinois,  Indiana,  and  western  Ken- 
tucky: 111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bull.  21,  1918. 

,  Water-gas  operating  methods  with  central  district  bituminous  coal 

as  generator  fuel,  a  summary  of  experiments  on  a  commercial  scale :  111.  Coal 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.  24,   1919. 

Odell,  W.  W.,  and  Dunkley,  W.  A.,  Water-gas  manufacture  with  central  district 
bituminous  coals  as  generator  fuel :  111.  Coal  Mining  Investigations  Bull.  22,  1918. 

Ovitz,  F.  K.,  Carbonization  of  Illinois  coal  in  inclined  gas  retorts  :  111.  Coal  Mining 
Investigations  Bull.  20,  1918. 

Coking  of  Illinois  coals:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  Bull.  138,  1917. 

PETROLEUM  AND  NATURAL  GAS 
Blatchley,  Raymond  S.,  Oil  resources  of  Illinois :   111.   State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.   16, 
p.  42,  1910. 

Oil  and  gas  in   Crawford   and   Lawrence  counties :    111.   State   Geol.    Survey 

Bull.  22,  1913. 

-  Plymouth  oil  field:    111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  23,  p.  51,  1917. 

Oil  and  gas  in  Bond,  Macoupin,  and  Montgomery  counties  :    111.   State  Geol. 


Survey  Bull.  28,  1914. 
Brokaw,  A.  D.,  Parts  of  Saline,  Johnson,  Pope,  and  Williamson  counties:   111.  State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  35,  p.  19,  1917. 
Butts,  Charles,  Parts  of  Hardin,  Pope,  and  Saline  counties  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey 

Bull.  35,  p.  75,  1917. 
Hinds,  Henry,  Oil  and  gas  in  Colchester  and  Macomb  quadrangles  :   111.   State  Geol. 

Survey  Bull.  23,  p.  45,  1917. 
Kay,  F.  H.,  Carlinville  oil  and  gas  field:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  20,  p.  81,  1915. 

Petroleum   in   Illinois   in    1914   and    1915:    111.    State   Geol.    Survey    Bull.    33, 

1916. 

Notes  on  the  Bremen  anticline:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  33,  1916. 


Knirk,   Carl  F.,   Natural  gas   in  the  glacial   drift   of   Champaign   County :    111.    State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  14,  p.  272.  1910. 
Lee,  Walace,  Oil  and  gas  in  Gillespie  and  Mount  Olive  quadrangles  :  111.  State  Geol. 

Survey  Bull.  31,  p.  71,  1915. 
Morse.  W.  C,  and  Kay.  F.  H.,  Area  south  of  the  Colmar  oil  field  :   111.  State  Geol. 

Survey  Bull.  31,  p.  8,  1915. 


110  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

The  Colmar  oil  field— a  restudy :   111.  State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.  31, 

p.  37,  1915. 
Rich,  J.  L.,  Allendale  oil  field:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  31,  p.  57,  1915. 

Oil  and  gas  in  the  Birds  quadrangle :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  33,  1916. 

Oil  and  gas  in  the  Vincennes  quadrangle  :  111.   State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.  33, 

1916. 
Shaw,  E.  W.,  Carlyle  oil  field  and  surrounding  territory :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 

20,  p.  43,  1915. 
St.  Clair,  Stuart,  Ava  area :    111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  35,  p.  57,  1917. 

Centralia  area  :    111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  35,  p.  67,  1917. 

Parts  of  Williamson,  Union,  and  Jackson  counties :   111.  State  Geol.  Survey 

Bull.  35.  p.  39.  1917. 
Udden,  J.   A.,   and    Shaw,   E.   W.,    U.    S.    Geological    Survey   Geol.   Atlas,   Belleville- 

Breese  folio   (No.  195).  p.  14.  1915. 

Coal  deposits  and  possible  oil  fields  near   Duquoin  :   111.   State   Geol.   Survey 

Bull.  14,  p.  254,  1910. 

Weller,   Stuart,   Anticlinal    structure   in   Randolph   County :    111.    State   Geol.    Survey 
Bull.  31.  p.  69.  1915. 

GASOLINE 
Burrell,  F.  M.  S.,  and  Oberfell,  G.  G.,  The  condensation  of  gasoline   from  natural 

gas:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  Bull.  88,  1915. 
Kay,  F.  H.,  Petroleum  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915:    111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  33, 

p.  71,  1916. 

CLAY  AND  CLAY  PRODUCTS 
Bleininger,  A.  V.,  Lines,  E.  F.,  and  Layman,  F.  E.,  Portland  cement  resources  of 

Illinois  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  17,  1912. 
Cady,   G.   H.,   Cement-making  materials  near    La    Salle    (includes   analyses   of   clay)  : 

111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8,  p.   127,  1909. 
Lines,  E.  H.,   Pennsylvanian  fire  clays  of   Illinois:    111.   State   Geol.    Survey  Bull.  30, 

p.  61,  1917. 
Parmelee,  C.  W.,  and   Schroyer,  C.  R.,  Further   investigations  of   Illinois   fireclays : 

111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  272,  1921. 
Parr,  S.  W.,  and  Ernest,  T.  R.,  A  study  of  sand-lime  brick :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey 

Bull.  18,  1912. 
Purdy,   R.  C,  and   DeWolf,  F.  W.,   Preliminary   investigation   of   Illinois  fire   clays: 

111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  4,  p.  129,  1907. 
Rolfe,   C.   W.,    Purdy,    R.   C,   Talbot,   A.   N.,   and   Baker,   I.   O.,   Paving   brick   and 

paving  brick  clays  of  Illinois:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  9,  1908. 
Savage,  T.  E..  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Canton  and  Avon  quadrangles  : 

111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  209,  1921. 
and  Udden,  J.  A.,  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Edgington  and  Milan 

quadrangles:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  115,  1921. 
Shaw,  E.  W..  and  Savage.  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Murphysboro- 

Herrin  folio  (No.  185),  p.  15,  1912. 
U.     S.    Geological    Survey    Geol.     Atlas,    Tallula-Springfield     folio 

(No.   188),  p.   12,   1913. 
and    Trowbridge,    A.    C,    U.    S.    Geological    Survey    Geol.    Atlas,    Galena- 


Elizabeth  folio   (No.  200),  p.  12,  1916. 
St.   Clair,   Stuart,   Clav  deposits   near  Mountain   Glen,   Union   County,   Illinois :     111. 

State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  36,  p.  71,  1920. 
Stull,   R.  T.,  and   Hursh,   R.  K.,   Tests  on   clay   materials   available  in   Illinois  coal 

mines :   111.   Coal   Mining  Investigations   Bull.    18,   1917. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  HI 

Udden,  J.  A.,  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Peoria  quadrangle :  U.  S.  Geo- 
logical Survey  Bull.  506,  pp.  89-90,  1912. 

and   Shaw,   E.  W.,   U.   S.   Geological   Survey   Geol.   Atlas,   Belleville-Breese 

folio  (No.  195),  p.  14,  1915. 

FLUORSPAR 
Bain,  H.  Foster,  Fluorspar  deposits  of   southern  Illinois :   U.   S.  Geol.   Survey   Bull. 

255,  1905. 
Burchard,  E.  F.,  Methods  of  concentration  of  fluorspar  :  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Mineral 

Resources,   1908,  pp.  609-611,   1909. 

Mining  and   milling  developments  in   the    Illinois   fluorspar   industry :    U.   S. 

Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources,   1910,  pp.  706-709,   1911. 

Pogue,  Joseph  E.,  Optical  fluorite  in  southern   Illinois  :   111.   State  Geol.   Survey  Bull. 

38.  p.  419,  1918. 
Ulrich,  E.  O.,  and  Smith,  W.  S.  T.,  The  lead,  zinc,  and  fluorspar  deposits  of  western 

Kentucky:  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Prof.  Paper  36,  1905. 
TRIPOLI  OR  SILICA 
Bain,   H.   Foster,   Analyses   of   silica   deposits   of   southern   Illinois :     111.   State   Geol. 

Survey  Bull.  4,  p.  185,  1907. 
Ernest,  T.  R.,  Experiments  on  the  amorphous  silica  of  southern  Illinois :   111.   State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  147,  1907. 
Savage,  T.  E.,  Lower  Paleozoic  stratigraphy  of  southwestern  Illinois  :  111.  State  Geol. 

Survey  Bull.  8,  p.   113,   1907. 
Williams,   W.   S.,   Artificial   silicates   with   reference   to   amorphous   silica:    111.    State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  14,  p.  276,  1909. 

LEAD  AND  ZINC 
Bain,  H.  Foster,  Lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  Illinois  :   U.   S.  Geological   Survey  Bull. 

225,  1904. 
Fluorspar    deposits    of    southern    Illinois    (includes    discussion    of    lead    and 

zinc)  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Bull.  255,  1905. 

Zinc  and   lead  deposits   of  northwestern   Illinois :    U.    S.   Geological    Survey 

Bull.  246,  1905. 

Zinc  and  lead  deposits  of  the  upper   Mississippi    Valley :   U.    S.   Geological 


Survey  Bull.  294,   1906. 

Cox,  G.  H.,  Lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  northwestern  Illinois  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  21,   1914. 

Elizabeth  sheet  of  the  lead  and  zinc  district  of  northern  Illinois  :  111.  State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  24,  1910. 

Grant,  U.   S.,   and    Purdue,   M.   J.,   Millbrig   sheet   of   the   lead   and    zinc   district   of 
northwestern  Illinois:   111.  State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.  8.   p.  335,    1911. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Trowbridge,  A.  C,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Galena- 
Elizabeth  folio  (No.  200),  1916. 

PYRITE 

Cady,  G.  H.,  The  pyrite  inventory  of  1918:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  427,  1921. 

Holbrook,    E.    A.,    The    utilization    of    pyrite    occurring    in    Illinois    bituminous    coal : 
Engineering  Experiment  Station  Circular  5,  1917. 

POTASH 

Schroyer,  C.  R.,  Notes  on  potash  possibilities  in  Illinois  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
38,  p.  435,  1921. 

OIL  SHALE 

Barrett,  N.  O.,  Notes  on  Illinois  bituminous  shales  including  results  of  their  experi- 
mental distillation:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  38,  p.  441,  1921. 


112  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Udden,  Jon,  and  Todd,  J.  E.,  The  occurrence  of  structural  materials  in  Illinois  :  111. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  342,  1910. 

LIMESTONE  AND  CEMENT 

Alden,  W.  C,  The  stone  industry  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 

Bull.  213,  pp.  357-360,  1903. 
Bleininger,  A.  V.,  Lines,  E.  F.,  and  Layman,  F.  E.,  Portland  cement  resources  of 

Illinois:   111.   State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.   17,   1912. 
Burchard,  E.  F.,  Concrete  materials  in  vicinity  of   Chicago:   111.   State  Geol.  Survey 

Bull.  8,  p.  245,  1907. 
Analyses  of  limestone  quarried  in  United   States  :    U.   S.  Geological  Survey 

Mineral  Resources,  1911,  pp.  655-697,  1912. 
Cady,  G.  H.,  Cement-making  materials  near  La  Salle  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8, 

p.   127,  1907. 
Eckel,  E.  C,  Burchard,  E.  F.,  and  others,  Portland  cement  materials  and  industry 

of  the  United  States:  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Bull.  522,  1913. 
Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Savage,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Murphysboro- 

Herrin  folio   (No.  185),  p.  15,  1912. 
and   Trowbridge,  A.  C,  U.   S.   Geological   Survey   Geol.   Atlas,  Galena-Eliz- 
abeth folio   (No.  200),  p.  12,  1916. 
Udden,   J.   A.,   and   Shaw,   E.   W.,   U.    S.   Geological    Survey   Geol.    Atlas,    Belleville- 

Breese  folio  (No.  195),  p.  14,  1915. 
Udden,  Jon,  The  Shoal  Creek  limestone:  111.  State  Geological   Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  117, 

1907. 
and  Todd,  J.  E.,  The  occurrence  of  structural  materials  in  Illinois  :  111.  State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  342,  1910. 
Van  Horn,  F.  B.,  Limestones  available   for   fertilizers  :   111.   State   Geological   Survey 

Bull.  4,  p.  177,  1907. 
Weller,  Stuart,  The  Salem  limestone:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8,  1907. 

LIME 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  Lime:  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1911,  pt.  2, 
pp.  645-718,  1912. 

and  Emley,  W.  E.,  Source,  manufacture,  and  use  of  lime :  U.  S.  Geological 

Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1913,  pt.  2,  pp.  1509-1593,  1914. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Trowbridge,  A.  C,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Galena- 
Elizabeth  folio   (No.  200),  p.  12,  1916. 

SAND  AND  GRAVEL 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  Glass  sand  of  the  middle  Mississippi  Basin:  U.  S.  Geological  Sur- 
vey Bull.  285,  1906. 

Production  of  glass  sand,  other  sand,  and  gravel,  in  1909   (includes  analyses 

of  Illinois  sands)  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1909,  pt.  2,  pp. 
519-542,   1911. 

. Concrete    materials    in    the    Chicago    district:    111.    State    Geological    Survey 

Bull.  8,  p.  345,   1907. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Savage,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Tallula- 
Springfield  folio   (No.  188),  p.  12,  1913. 

Udden,  J.  A.,  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Peoria  quadrangle:  U.  S.  Geo- 
logical Survey  Bull.  506,  p.  97,  1912. 

Udden,  Jon,  and  Todd,  J.  E.,  The  occurrence  of  structural  materials  in  Illinois: 
111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  342,  1907. 


THE  GEOLOGY  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  THE 
EDGINGTON  AND  MILAN  QUADRANGLES 

By  T.  E.  Savage  and  J.  A.  Udden 


PREFACE 


Recent  field  examinations  in  the  area  covered  by  this  report  have  suggested  radical 
changes  in  the  assumed  correlations  of  the  coals.  Meanwhile,  the  geological  maps 
had  been  engraved  and  the  report  had  been  set  in  type  for  publication.  Certain  impro- 
vised changes  in  the  map  and  report  have  been  made  but  they  are  of  necessity  brief, 
and  are  not  supported  by  a  full  discussion ;  therefore,  the  reader  will  be  glad  to  know 
that  a  further  statement  is  in  preparation  and  will  soon  be  available. 

The  principal  coal  of  the  Rock  Island  area  has  long  been  known  to  the  trade  as 
"Rock  Island  or  No.  1  coal".  It  has  many  characteristics  resembling  those  of  the 
No.  1  bed  of  Fulton  County,  and  was  regarded  by  A.  H.  Worthen,  the  former  State 
Geologist,  as  of  the  same  age  and  horizon.  Furthermore,  plant  fossils  have  seemed 
to  indicate  that  this  coal  is  of  Pottsville  age.  However,  H.  E.  Culver  of  the  State 
Survey  has  recently  found  in  the  roof  limestone  of  the  coal  at  Matherville  and  Sher- 
rard,  numerous  fossils  of  Girtyina  ventricosa,  which  to  the  best  of  our  knowledge 
occur  only  in  the  limestone  overlying  No.  6  coal.  T.  E.  Savage,  joint  author  in  the 
present  report,  is  quite  confident  that  the  coal  known  as  No.  1  at  these  mines  must 
really  be  No.  6,  even  though  there  may  be  elsewhere  in  the  region  thinner  beds 
comparable  with  No.  1  of  Fulton  County  and  of  Pottsville  age.  At  his  request  the 
present  report  has  been  changed  so  as  to  recognize  the  new  correlation. 

This  new  evidence,  together  with  observations  by  Currier,  Savage,  and  Culver  in 
western  Illinois,  suggests  a  marked  period  of  erosion  near  the  close  of  Carbondale 
time,  after  which  No.  6  coal  was  deposited  widespread.  Evidently  in  places  it  imme- 
diately overlies  various  beds  of  the  earlier  Carbondale  strata,  and  perhaps  may  be 
found  directly  on  the  Pottsville. 

Further  evidence  and  interpretation  will  be  presented  by  Mr.  Culver  in  a  report 
on  "Coal  resources  of  District  III",  Illinois  Mining  Investigations. 

F.  W.  DeWolf,  Chief. 


115 


THE  GEOLOGY  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  THE 
EDGINGTON  AND  MILAN  QUADRANGLES 

By  T.  E.  Savage  and  J.  A.  Udden 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction    121 

Position  and  general  relations 121 

Topography  of  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 121 

Relief   121 

Upland   prairies    121 

Erosion  slopes 122 

Flood   plains    123 

Drainage     125 

Culture     126 

Descriptive   geology    127 

Stratigraphy     127 

General  character  of  the  rocks 127 

Data  in  rocks  not  exposed  in  the  quadrangles 127 

Records  of  deep  wells 129 

The  generalized   section    132 

Cambrian  system   132 

Potsdam  series    132 

Ordovician    system 133 

Prairie  du  Chien   limestone 133 

St.    Peter   sandstone 133 

Platteville    limestone     134 

Galena  dolomite   134 

Maquoketa  shale    134 

Silurian    system     135 

Niagaran    limestone    135 

Rocks  exposed  in  or  near  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 136 

Devonian  system    136 

Wapsipinicon  and  Cedar  Valley  limestones 136 

Sweetland    Creek   shale 140 

Mississippian  system  '. 141 

Pennsylvanian    system    141 

Descriptions  of  outcrops   143 

Pottsville  formation   143 

Rock  Island  (No.  1)    (?)  coal  and  associated  strata 154 

Carbondale  and  McLeansboro  formations 156 

Unconformities    within    the    Pennsylvanian 161 

Quaternary   system    163 

Character  and  thickness   of  deposits 163 

Pleistocene    series    164 

Differentiation    of    deposits    164 

Kansan    till 164 

Yarmouth    interglacial    stage 167 

Pre-Illinoian    deposits    167 

Illinoian  till   169 

Sangamon  soil  zone    173 

117 


118  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918  PAGE 

The  loess   175 

Topographic    features    176 

Miscellaneous    features    177 

Terrace    deposits     179 

Recent  series   180 

Alluvium     180 

Dune   sand 180 

Structure  of  the  Paleozoic  rocks   181 

Structure  of  pre-Pennsylvanian  rocks 181 

Structure   of    Pennsylvanian    rocks 183 

Geologic    history    185 

Imperfection  of  the  record     185 

Paleozoic   era    185 

Cambrian  period    185 

Ordovician  period   186 

Silurian    period    186 

Devonian    period    186 

Mississippian    period    186 

Pennsylvanian  period    187 

Pottsville   time    187 

Carbondale  and  McLeansboro   time 187 

Post  Pennsylvanian  deformation    187 

Mesozoic  era   188 

Cenozoic  era   188 

Tertiary   period    188 

Quaternary  period 188 

Pleistocene    epoch    188 

Kansan  time    189 

Yarmouth    time    189 

Illinoian   time    189 

Sangamon   time    189 

Iowan  and  Peorian  time 189 

Wisconsin    time    190 

Recent    epoch    190 

Mineral   resources    190 

Coal 190 

Coals  other  than  the  Rock  Island   (No.   1)  (?)  and  Herrin  (No.  6)  beds  ..    190 

Rock  Island  and  Herrin  coals  in  the  Milan  quadrangle 193 

Rock  Island  and  Herrin  coals  in  the  Edgington  quadrangle 194 

Character  of  the  Herrin   (No.  6)   coal 195 

Mines  and  mining  methods 196 

Chemical  analyses    197 

Shale  and  clay   197 

Limestone     198 

Sand  and  gravel 199 

Portland    cement    material 199 

Possibilities    of   oil   and   gas 200 

Gas  in  glacial  drift 200 

Soil 201 

Water    resources    202 

Wells  in  surficial  material 202 

Wells  in  hard  rock  202 

Surface-water    supplies 203 

Water  power 203 


EDGINGTOX  AND  MILAN  QUADRANGLES  119 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATE 

II.     Map  showing  the  surficial  and  economic  geology  of  the  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles   Pocket 

FIGURE  PAGE 

13.  Index  map  showing  the  location  of  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles....    120 

14.  Profile  of  rock  bottom  of  Mississippi  River  between  Dubuque  and  Mus- 

catine       125 

15.  Generalized  columnar  section  of  the  rocks  exposed,  and  explored  by  deep 

borings  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 128 

16.  Thin-bedded  limestone  just  below  the  horizon  of  the  Acervularia  david- 

soni  coral-reef  horizon    136 

17.  View  showing  the  character  of  the  brecciated  limestone  in  the  basal  part 

of  the  Devonian,  near  Rock  Island,  Illinois 138 

18.  Shaly  limestone  in  the  middle  part  of  the  Devonian  section,  along  Mill 

Creek,  near  Milan,   Illinois    140 

19.  Sweetland  Creek  shale,  along  Sweetland  Creek  in  the  northwest  quarter 

of  the  Edgington  quadrangle 141 

20.  Contact  of  the  Devonian  limestone  and  the  basal  Pottsville  conglomerate, 

near   Andalusia,    Illinois    142 

21.  Old  caverns  in  the  Devonian  limestone,  the  Pottsville  filling  of  which  has 

been  removed  by  the  river 1 43 

22.  Uncomformable  contact  of  the  Devonian  limestone  and  Pottsville  shale, 

in  sec.  13,  T.  17  X.,  R.  2  W 144 

23.  Thin-bedded  sandstone  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Pottsville,  formerly  quar- 

ried in  sec.  7,  Drury  Township 145 

24.  Sandstone  overlying  a  thin  coal  bed  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Pottsville 

formation,  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  23,  Drury  Township 155 

25.  Mine  map  of  mine  No.  2  of  Coal  Valley  Mining  Company  at  Sherrard, 

showing  location  of  old  channel  in  the  coal 162 

26.  Fine-grained  water-laid  sand,  50  feet  thick  beneath  a  few  feet  of  Illinoian 

till  in  the  S W.  r/\  sec.  8  of  Eliza  Township 169 

27.  "Sea  mud"  or  fine-grained  sand  underlying  sand  and  gravel  below  Illi- 

noian till  in  the  XE.  *4  sec.  14,  Eliza  Township 170 

28.  Sand  and  gravel  below  Illinoian  till,  exposed  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  26,  T. 

16  X.,  R.  5  W 170 

29.  Bluff  of  loess  in  old  clay  pit  of  Blackhawk  Manufacturing  Company,  at 

Sears,  Illinois   175 

30.  Faults  in  the  Pleistocene  deposits  near  Augustana  College  in  Rock  Island..  ..  177 

31.  Small  faults  in  the  loess,  in  Rock  Island 178 

32.  Columnar  sections  showing  the  variations  in  the  number  and  thickness 

of  the  various  coals  penetrated  in  borings  near  Andalusia  and  Illinois 

City     192 

TABLES 

36.  Shipping  mines  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles,  1920 196 

37.  Analyses  of  mine  samples  from  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 197 

38.  Mineral  analyses  of  St.  Peter  sandstone  water  from  wells  in  the  Milan 

and    Edgington    quadrangles    204 

39.  Sanitary  analyses  of  filtered  Moline  city  water  from  Mississippi  River 205 

40.  Sanitary  analyses  of  unfiltered  Moline  city  water  from  Mississippi  River ....  206 

41.  Mineral  analyses  of  Moline  city  water  from  Mississippi  River 207 


120 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Fig.  13. — Index  map  showing  the  location  of  the  Milan  and  Edginj 
ton  quadrangles.     The  stippled  boundary  is  the  outline 
of  the  Illinois  coal  field. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN     AREA— INTRODUCTION  121 

INTRODUCTION 

Position  and  General  Relations 

The  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  are  included  between  the  paral- 
lels 41°  15'  and  41°  30'  north  latitude,  and  the  meridians  90°  30'  and  91° 
west  longitude.  They  thus  embrace  about  one-eighth  of  a  square  degree, 
which  at  this  latitude  is  equivalent  to  about  437.75  square  miles.  In  addition 
to  these  quadrangles  there  is  included  in  this  report  about  7  square  miles 
lying  south  of  the  main  channel  of  Mississippi  River,  and  north  of  latitude 
41°  30'.  This  latter  tract  includes  the  older  parts  of  the  cities  of  Rock 
Island  and  Moline,  and  the  Government  reservation  of  Rock  Island,  which 
lies  between  the  two  channels  of  the  river.  Fig.  13  is  an  index  map  showing 
the  general  position  of  the  quadrangles. 

The  greater  part  of  the  area  of  these  quadrangles  is  in  Rock  Island 
County,  Illinois,  but  it  also  includes  about  145  square  miles  of  Mercer  County, 
in  the  south  part  of  the  area,  and  about  60  square  miles  north  of  Mississippi 
River,  which  comprises  parts  of  Scott  and  Muscatine  counties,  in  Iowa.  The 
principal  cities  in  the  area  are  Rock  Island  and  Moline. 

These  quadrangles  form  a  part  of  the  great  region  known  as  the  Gla- 
ciated Plains,  which  extends  far  to  the  east  and  west,  with  which  this  area 
is  closely  related  in  its  physiographic  and  geologic  history. 

TOPOGRAPHY  OF  THE  MILAN  AND  EDGINGTON 
QUADRANGLES 

Relief 

The  surface  of  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  is  that  of  a  loess- 
covered  drift  plain  that  has  been  rather  strongly  dissected  by  stream  erosion. 
In  this  old  plain  the  Mississippi  River  and  its  tributary  systems  have  carved 
valleys,  in  places  one-half  to  2%  miles  wide,  to  a  depth  of  100  to  200  feet 
below  the  uplands.  On  account  of  the  proximity  of  Mississippi  River  the 
extreme  range  of  surface  relief  in  the  area  is  about  280  feet.  The  lowest 
place,  slightly  less  than  540  feet  above  sea  level,  is  in  the  valley  of 
Mississippi  River,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle. 
The  highest  point  is  on  the  upland  in  the  Milan  quadrangle,  about  one  mile 
southeast  of  Reynolds,  where  the  elevation  reaches  820  feet. 

The  area  includes  three  distinct  varieties  of  topographic  features :  upland 
prairies,  erosion  slopes,  and  flood  plains. 

Upland  Prairies 
The  upland  prairies  comprise  less  than  half  the  area  of  the  quadrangles. 
The  larger  part  of  these  uplands  is  included  in  two  watersheds  which  extend 
in  an  east-west  direction  across  the  quadrangles,  and  represent  the  uneroded 
portion  of  the  original  drift-formed  plain.  The  more  northern  of  these 
divides  lies  between  Mississippi  and  Rock  River  valleys  in  the  north,  and 


122  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Copperas  and  Mill  creeks  on  the  south.  The  second  upland  belt  is  bordered 
on  the  north  by  Copperas  and  Mill  creeks  and  on  the  south  by  Eliza  Creek 
and  Camp  Creek,  and  a  third  somewhat  smaller  belt  of  upland  still  farther 
south  forms  the  watershed  between  Camp  Creek  and  Edwards  River.  These 
upland  areas  are  very  irregular  in  outline.  The  two  larger  areas  include 
a  nearly  continuous  belt  of  level  land  one  to  three  miles  wide,  extending 
entirely  across  both  quadrangles.  The  general  surface  of  the  more  northern 
upland  belt  lies  between  730  and  800  feet  above  sea  level,  the  highest  part 
lying  within  about  5  miles  east  and  west  from  the  village  of  Edgington. 
The  elevation  of  the  southern  area  ranges  from  740  to  820  feet  above  the 
sea,  being  higher  in  the  Milan  quadrangle,  where  the  surface  of  the  larger 
part  of  this  belt  lies  above  800  feet  altitude.  From  these  main  divides, 
inter-stream  areas  of  varying  width  extend  in  irregular  finger-like  projec- 
tions between  the  tributaries  of  the  bordering  streams,  becoming  progress- 
ively narrower  in  width  and  lower  in  altitude  as  the  larger  streams  are 
approached. 

Erosion  Slopes 

The  valleys  of  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  are  bordered  by  forested 
slopes  80  to  150  feet  high.  In  places  where  the  rivers  have  recently  under- 
cut one  of  their  banks,  a  nearly  perpendicular  cliff  of  Pennsylvanian  strata, 
50  or  more  feet  high,  may  be  exposed.  In  other  places  where  undercutting 
has  not  been  active  for  a  considerable  period,  the  hard  rocks  are  concealed 
by  a  mantle  of  unconsolidated  material  derived  from  slumping  and  sheet 
wash,  but  their  presence  near  the  surface  is  indicated  by  the  steep  lower 
slopes  of  the  valley  sides.  The  tributaries  of  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers, 
and  of  Edwards  River,  have  cut  valleys  to  the  level  of  their  master  streams, 
and  like  them  are  bordered  by  rather  steep  slopes,  a  descent  of  120  feet  in 
a  distance  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  being  common.  Pennsylvanian  rocks  are 
exposed  in  numerous  places  along  these  valleys. 

One  of  the  conspicuous  features  on  the  slopes,  especially  where  the 
banks  are  largely  composed  of  Pennsylvanian  shale,  is  the  slumps  or  land- 
slides that  have  occurred  on  a  large  scale.  Frequently  five  or  six  terrace- 
like offsets,  8  to  12  feet  high  and  10  to  15  rods  long,  are  present  in  vertical 
succession  on  the  same  slope,  in  places  where  the  valleys  lie  a  considerable 
distance  below  the  upland.  Under  such  conditions  slumping  is  one  of  the 
most  important  agents  in  the  development  of  gentle  slopes.  At  a  consid- 
erable distance  from  the  rivers  the  stream  valleys  are  50  to  100  feet  deep, 
and  are  bounded  by  more  gentle  slopes.  Toward  their  heads  they  become 
shallower  and  their  slopes  less  steep  until  at  length  they  merge  insensibly 
into  the  uplands. 

In  the  southwest  part  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  as  along  Eliza  Creek 
and  its  branches,  the  banks  of  the  streams  are  of  Pleistocene  material,  and 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      TOPOGRAPHY  123 

no  hard  rock  is  exposed.  Along  the  west  border  of  the  area  the  top  of 
the  bluff  bordering  Mississippi  River  is  in  many  places  capped  by  a  deposit 
of  wind-blown  loess  or  sand  that  increases  the  local  relief. 

Flood  Plains 

The  larger  flood  plains  in  these  quadrangles  are  along  Mississippi 
River,  Rock  River,  and  Edwards  River.  Smaller  areas  of  alluvial  deposits 
occur  in  the  valleys  of  the  larger  tributary  creeks. 

The  flood  plain  of  Mississippi  River  is  3%  miles  wide  where  the  river 
enters  the  Milan  quadrangle,  and  continues  equally  wide  to  below  the  junc- 
tion of  Rock  River  and  Mississippi,  a  distance  of  about  4%  miles.  About 
3  miles  east  of  Andalusia  the  bluffs  converge  so  that  the  width  of  the  flood 
plain  does  not  exceed  U/2  miles.  The  valley  continues  about  this  width 
to  Montpelier,  below  which  it  widens  to  nearly  2  miles,  which  width  it  holds 
as  far  as  Muscatine  on  the  west  border  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  with 
the  exception  of  a  slight  constriction  for  two  miles  below  Fairport. 

This  portion  of  the  course  of  Mississippi  River  across  the  Milan  and 
Edgington  quadrangles  is  the  lower  part  of  the  "upper  narrows"  of  the 
river  which  begins  at  Cordova,  about  22  miles  above  Rock  Island.  In  this 
part  of  its  course  the  river  was  diverted  from  its  pre-glacial  channel  during 
Pleistocene  time,  and  has  here  been  cutting  a  new,  relatively  narrow  channel 
across  the  pre-glacial  upland.  Where  the  river  bends  south,  at  Muscatine, 
it  enters  a  portion  of  an  old  pre-glacial  channel,  and  the  flood  plain  abruptly 
broadens  to  a  width  of  7  miles,  which  width  is  maintained  farther  southward 
beyond  the  limits  of  the  quadrangles. 

Where  Rock  River  enters  the  Milan  quadrangle,  the  flood  plain  is  2% 
miles  wide,  but  the  width  gradually  decreases  until  at  Milan  it  does  not 
exceed  1%  miles.  The  width  of  the  flood  plain  of  these  rivers  is  clearly 
controlled  by  the  character  of  the  rock  that  forms  the  bordering  banks.  The 
glacial  drift  has  offered  the  least  resistance  to  the  erosional  work  of  the 
streams.  Rocks  of  Pennsylvanian  age,  especially  the  sandstones,  furnish  a 
fair  degree  of  resistance,  but  the  resistance  of  the  Devonian  limestones  is 
far  greater  than  that  of  either  the  drift  or  the  sandstone.  The  narrowing 
of  the  valley  of  Rock  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Milan  is  clearly  due  to  the 
rise  of  the  Devonian  limestone  in  the  banks  on  both  sides  of  the  stream. 
In  like  manner  the  constriction  of  the  valley  of  Mississippi  River  above 
Andalusia  is  also  due  to  the  presence  of  Devonian  limestone  in  the  valley 
walls.  The  less  conspicuous  narrowing  of  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  below 
Fairport  was  caused  by  the  unusual  thickness  of  Pennsylvanian  sandstone  in 
the  river  banks  in  that  locality.  The  width  of  the  valley  of  Mill  Creek,  in  the 
Milan  quadrangle,  where  it  is  bordered  by  Devonian  limestone  for  a  distance 
of  4  or  5  miles  above  the  junction  with  Rock  River,  is  less  than  one-third 


124  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

of  its  common  width  farther  upstream  where  the  banks  are  composed  of 
glacial  drift  or  of  Pennsylvanian  shale  and  sandstone. 

The  width  of  the  flood  plain  bordering  Edwards  River  in  the  Milan 
quadrangle  varies  between  half  a  mile  and  one  mile. 

The  other  larger  streams  in  the  quadrangles  are  Copperas,  Camp,  and 
Eliza  creeks.  These  have  developed  flood  plains  throughout  the  greater 
part  of  their  length,  to  a  width  generally  less  than  one- fourth  mile,  but  the 
larger  ones  are  in  some  places  nearly  half  a  mile  wide.  The  larger  part  of 
the  flood  plains  of  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  lies  between  12  and  20 
feet  above  the  ordinary  level  of  the  water.  The  range  of  relief  of  these 
flood  plains  in  the  Milan  quadrangle  is  less  than  50  feet,  ranging  from  about 
560  feet  above  sea  level  near  the  channels  of  the  rivers,  to  about  600  feet 
at  the  bases  of  some  of  the  bordering  bluffs.  In  the  Edgington  quadrangle 
the  elevation  of  the  surface  of  the  flood  plain  of  Mississippi  River  ranges 
from  about  540  to  580  feet. 

The  surface  of  the  flood  plain  of  Mississippi  River  declines  15  feet  in 
the  distance  of  about  21  miles  across  the  quadrangles.  The  principal  inequali- 
ties of  this  river  flat  are  broad,  shallow  depressions,  representing  partly 
filled  channels  that  are  followed  by  the  flood  waters.  Such  depressions  are 
found  northeast  of  New  Rockingham,  and  also  in  sees.  3  and  10,  South 
Rock  Island  Township,  and  west  of  Milan  along  Kickapoo  slough.  Near 
the  main  channel  these  depressions  may  contain  water  the  most  of  the  year, 
and  form  a  network  of  bayous  separated  by  sand  bars  or  similar  deposits  of 
irregular  character.  Swamps  and  ponds  are  numerous  over  most  of  this 
valley  flat. 

In  a  few  places  islands  of  bed  rock  occur  in  the  flood  plain,  as  Rock 
Island  on  which  the  Government  arsenal  is  located,  and  Vandruff  Island 
in  Rock  River,  north  of  Milan.  However,  most  of  the  islands  are  formed 
of  alluvium  deposited  by  the  river. 

The  thickness  of  the  alluvial  deposits  along  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers 
in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  usually  varies  from  15  to  45  feet, 
the  rock  bottom  of  the  valley  below  the  river  lying  at  altitudes  of  from  515 
to  535  feet.  This  slight  thickness  of  the  alluvium  in  the  "narrows"  of  the 
river  between  Cordova  and  Muscatine  is  in  strong  contrast  to  the  depth  of 
alluvial  deposits  in  the  old  portion  of  the  river  valley  where  it  follows  a  pre- 
glacial  channel  (see  figure  14).  At  Fulton,  north  of  the  "narrows," 
the  flood-plain  deposits  extend  downward  166  feet  below  the  level  of  low 
water  in  the  river,  the  altitude  of  the  rock  at  the  base  of  these  deposits 
being  about  400  feet  above  sea  level.  Udden1  has  reported  two  wells  in  the 
old  channel  below  Muscatine  that  passed  through  about  158  feet  of  alluvial 
deposits,  reaching  rock  at  an  altitude  a  little  less  than  400  feet  above  sea 
level.  A  well  put  down  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Edgington  quad- 
rangle penetrated  120  feet  of  alluvial  material  without  reaching  bed  rock. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      DRAINAGE  125 

Along  the  east  bluff  of  Mississippi  River  north  of  Sears,  and  in  the 
south  part  of  Rock  Island,  a  remnant  of  an  old  terrace  extends  in  an  al- 
most continuous  belt  for  2  to  3  miles.  A  part  of  the  surface  of  this  ter- 
race area  rises  above  the  600-foot  contour  line,  and  the  material  consists 
mostly  of  cross-bedded  sand  and  gravel.  In  a  few  other  places  terrace 
remnants  appear  near  the  bluffs  where  creeks  leave  the  uplands  in  Buffalo, 
Andalusia,  and  Black  Hawk  townships. 

In  places  where  the  slopes  of  the  river  banks  are  gentle  the  bottom 
lands  rise  as  the  bluffs  are  approached.     This  rise  is  doubtless  due  to  the 

!  i  i  1       I  I 

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--. 

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TCI 

urti 

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'too* 

— 

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/ 

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Fig.  14. — Profile  of  the  rock  bottom  of  Mississippi  River  between  Dubuque 

and  Muscatine. 

deposition  of  sediment  as  sheet  wash  from  the  bordering  banks,  or  as  low, 
more  or  less  coalescing  alluvial  fans  deposited  where  small  streams  flowing 
down  the  steeper  bluff  slope  have  been  unable. to  carry  the  load  of  sediment 
across  the  level  flood  plain. 

DRAINAGE 

All  of  the  area  included  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  be- 
longs to  the  Mississippi  River  drainage  system.  The  Mississippi  enters  at 
the  northeast  corner  of  the  area,  flows  southwest  to  the  mouth  of  Rock 
River,  thence  nearly  west  across  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Milan  quad- 
rangle and  the  north  part  of  the  Edgington,  and  leaves  the  area  in  section 
31,  T.  17  N.,  R.  5  W. 

The  drainage  basin  of  Mississippi  River  above  Quincy  includes  about 
135,500  square  miles,  while  that  portion  of  the  basin  above  Moline  is  about 
90,000  square  miles.  The  run-off  from  the  part  of  the  basin  above  Quincy 
is  about  .538  second-feet  per  square  mile.  In  this  part  of  its  course  the 
river  carries  each  year  108  tons  of  dissolved  mineral  matter,  and  63  tons 
of  suspended  matter  from  each  square  mile  of  its  drainage  basin.  At  this 
rate  more  than  1,100  years  are  required  to  lower  the  entire  surface  of  its 
drainage  basin  one  inch,  which  is  at  the  rate  of  one  foot  in  from  13,000  to 
14,000  years. 

Rock  River,  the  largest  tributary  of  the  Mississippi  in  the  quadrangles, 
rises  in  Wisconsin,  and  flows  in  a  southwest  direction  for  nearly  300  miles, 
joining  the  Mississippi  near  the  town  of  Milan.  The  drainage  basin  of  Rock 
River  is  about  10,970  square  miles,  about  half  of  which  is  in  Wisconsin. 
From  its  source  to  its  mouth  the  river  falls  about  340  feet,  the  average 


lUdden,  J.  A.,  Reported  by  Leverett,   U.   S.  Geological   Survey,  Mon.   38.   p.   475,   1899. 


126  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

slope  being  1.2  feet  to  the  mile.  The  greatest  fall  in  Illinois,  for  any  con- 
siderable distance  is  from  Oregon  to  Sterling,  a  distance  of  36  miles  in 
which  the  average  slope  is  1.31  feet  per  mile.  The  average  discharge  of 
Rock  River  into  the  Mississippi  from  October  1,  1906,  to  July  31,  1907, 
was  between  8,000  and  9,000  cubic  feet  per  second.  The  river  removes 
each  year  an  average  of  200  tons  of  mineral  matter  in  solution  and  180 
tons  of  sediment  in  suspension  from  each  square  mile  of  its  drainage  basin. 
At  this  rate  the  level  of  the  entire  basin  would  be  reduced  one  inch  in 
500  years,  or  at  the  rate  of  one  foot  in  about  6,000  vears. 

Besides  Rock  River,  the  larger  tributaries  to  the  Mississippi  in  these 
quadrangles  are  Edwards  River,  and  Copperas,  Camp,  Eliza,  and  Mill  creeks. 
With  the  exception  of  Mill  Creek,  all  of  these  flow  in  a  general  westerly 
direction,  approximately  parallel  with  the  Mississippi  in  this  area.  Their 
channels  are  bordered  by  narrow,  well-defined  flood  plains  having  an  aver- 
age slope  of  8  to  12  feet  to  the  mile.  Mill  Creek  follows  an  easterly  course 
throughout  the  greater  part  of  its  length,  but  bends  abruptly  northward 
about  5  miles  above  its  mouth,  and  continues  in  this  direction  to  its  junc- 
tion with  Rock  River  a  short  distance  east  of  Milan.  The  eastward  course 
of  Mill  Creek  is  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  of  the  other  streams  of  the 
area,  and  its  abrupt  bend  to  the  northward  a  few  miles  above  its  mouth 
are  peculiar  features  for  a  stream  in  this  region.  The  explanation  is  prob- 
ably to  be  found  in  the  irregularities  in  the  original  surface  of  the  drift 
plain.  The  surface  of  the  drift  is  now  somewhat  higher  over  the  narrow 
divide  between  the  headwaters  of  Copperas  and  Mill  creeks  than  over  any 
other  part  of  the  surface  bordering  the  immediate  valleys  of  these  streams. 
This  divide  west  of  Reynolds  has  an  elevation  of  810  feet  above  sea  level, 
and  toward  the  south  it  merges  into  the  watershed  between  Mill  and  Camp 
Creeks,  on  which,  about  a  mile  southeast  of  Reynolds,  is  the  highest  point  in 
the  quadrangles. 

All  of  the  larger  streams  in  the  quadrangles  have  numerous  tributaries 
which  generally  are  two  to  four  miles  long  and  are  about  one  mile  apart. 
They  usually  follow  a  north-south  direction,  and  meet  their  major  streams 
nearly  at  right  angles. 

CULTURE 

The  larger  part  of  the  surface  of  the  quadrangles,  except  in  the  lower 
parts  of  the  flood  plains,  is  under  cultivation,  and  agriculture  is  the  princi- 
pal industry.  The  area  is  rather  thickly,  though  not  densely,  settled.  The 
largest  cities  are  Rock  Island  and  Moline  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
Milan  quadrangle.  The  population  of  Rock  Island  is  35,000,  while  that  of 
Moline  is  31,000.  The  smaller  towns  usually  have  only  a  few  families,  or 
a  few  hundred  inhabitants.  In  the  Milan  quadrangle  are  Milan,  Sears, 
Sherrard,   Cable,   Matherville,   Reynolds,  Andalusia,   and   Taylor   Ridge   in 


EDGIN'GTON-MILAN    AREA:       CULTURE  127 

Illinois,  and  the  village  of  Buffalo  in  Iowa.  In  the  Edgington  quadrangle 
are  the  villages  of  Edgington,  Illinois  City,  and  Buffalo  Prairie  in  Illinois, 
and  Fairport  and  Montpelier  on  the  Iowa  side  of  the  river. 

There  are  a  few  commercial  coal  mines  and  several  local  mines  in 
the  area,  but  coal  mining  is  not  a  very  important  industry  in  the  quadrangles. 
Considerable  manufacturing  is  carried  on  in  the  cities  of  Rock  Island  and 
Moline,  and  the  railroads  give  employment  to  a  large  number  of  people. 

The  Milan  quadrangle  is  well  provided  with  transportation  facilities, 
but  the  Edgington  is  less  fortunate  in  this  regard.  The  main  line  of  the 
Chicago,  Rock  Island  and  Pacific,  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St. 
Paul  railways  pass  through  Moline  and  Rock  Island,  and  follow  the  north 
side  of  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  across  the  north  end  of  the  quadrangles 
to  Muscatine.  The  Peoria  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island,  and  Pacific 
crosses  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  Milan  quadrangle,  connecting  Rock 
Island  and  Peoria.  The  Sherrard  and  Cable  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Rock 
Island  and  Pacific,  and  the  Rock  Island  Southern  Interurban  connect  Rock 
Island  with  most  of  the  towns  in  the  Milan  quadrangle,  and  the  latter  con- 
tinues southward  to  Monmouth.  The  wagon-roads,  which  are  mostly  dirt, 
follow  land-survey  lines  and,  except  in  the  more  hilly  areas  and  over  the 
swampy  flood  plains,  there  are  few  places  in  the  quadrangles  more  than 
half  a  mile  distant  from  a  public  road. 

DESCRIPTIVE  GEOLOGY 

Stratigraphy 

general  character  of  the  rocks 

The  rocks  that  are  exposed  at  the  surface  or  have  been  explored  in 
deep  drillings  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  include  formations 
ranging  in  age  from  the  Cambrian  to  Recent  time.  The  Cambrian,  Ordo- 
vician,  and  Silurian  strata  are  known  in  this  area  only  from  deep  well  ex- 
plorations made  for  artesian  water  in  the  north  part  of  the  Milan  quadran- 
gle, where  they  have  been  penetrated  to  a  maximum  depth  of  2,368  feet 
The  Devonian,  Carboniferous,  and  Pleistocene  rocks  are  known  both  from 
natural  outcrops  and  from  deep  borings.  A  generalized  columnar  section 
of  all  the  formations  known  in  the  quadrangles  is  shown  in  figure  15. 

DATA    ON    ROCKS    NOT    EXPOSED    IN    THE    QUADRANGLES 

Information  regarding  the  rocks  older  than  the  Devonian  in  the  Milan 
and  Edgington  quadrangles  has  been  obtained  chiefly  from  eight  deep  well 
borings,  a  summary  of  the  records  of  which  is  given  below.  As  these 
records  have  been  previously  published1,  some  of  the  details  of  the  logs 
are  here  omitted. 


lUdden,   J.   A.,   Deep  well  borings  in   Illinois:    111.    State   Geol.    Survey   Bull.    24,    1914. 


128 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Sweetland    Creek 


Cedar  Valley 


Wapsipinicon 


Niagaran 


Maquoketa 


Galena 

and 

Platteville 


St.  Peter 


T~T 


Prairie  du  Chien 


Potsdam" 
or 
Upper  Cambrian 


H 


McLeansboro 

Carboudale 

Pottsville 


Fig.    15. — Generalized    columnar    section    of    the 

rocks  exposed,  and  explored  by  deep  borings 

in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles. 

(Scale,   1   inch  =400   feet.) 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      STRATIGRAPHY  129 

RECORDS   OF    DEEP    WELLS 

The  succession  of  strata  penetrated  in  the  well  put  down  by  the  Modern 
Woodmen  in  Rock  Island  is  as  follows.  The  altitude  of  the  curb  is  about 
565  feet  above  mean  sea  level. 

Log  of  the  Modern  Woodmen's  well  near  Seventeenth  Street  and  Third  Avenue 

in  Rock  Island 

Thickness     Total  depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Devonian  and  Silurian  systems,  undifferentiated — 

Limestone,  samples  not  studied   160  160 

Silurian  system — 
Niagaran  limestone — 

Dolomite,  yellowish  at  the  top,  white  in  middle  and  lower 
parts,  cherty  near  the  base;    molds  of  crinoid   stems  near 

the  middle    300  460 

Ordovician  system — 
Maquoketa  shale  — 

Shale,  fossiliferous  in  upper  half,  containing  layers  of  dolo- 
mite at  different  levels,  the  lower  40  feet  bituminous 170  630 

Galena  dolomite- 
Dolomite,  coarse  texture  in  some  parts,  with  some  chert 250  880 

Platteville  limestone — 

Limestone,  non-magnesian,  gray 85  965 

Shale,  green,  and  some  sand 35  1000 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 

Sand,  quartz,  in  white,  rounded  grains 115  ?  1115  ? 

Shale,   green    8  1123 

The  deepest  drilling  made  in  the  quadrangles  was  the  well  put  down 
by  the  Tri-City  Railway  Company,  in  Prospect  Park,  in  Moline.  The  rec- 
ord below  1,161  feet  was  furnished  by  J.  G.  Huntoon.  The  elevation  of 
the  top  of  the  well  is  611  feet  above  the  sea. 

Log  of  the  Tri-City  Railway  Company's  well  in  Prospect  Park,  Moline, 
near  the  center  of  the  east  line  of  sec.  8,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W. 

Thickness     Total  depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 
Quaternary  and  Pennsylvanian,  undifferentiated — 
Boulder    clay    above,   and    shale    and    sandstone    of    Pennsylva- 
nian age  below  71  71 

Devonian  system — 
Middle  Devonian  series — 

Wapsipinicon  and  Cedar  Valley  limestones — 

Limestone,  mostly  compact,  gray,  or  white,  nonmagnesian. .     59  130 

Silurian  system — 
Niagaran  series — 

Dolomite,  straw-colored  to  grayish-white,  and  white,  in  places 
porous,  and  containing  pockets  of  clay  and  some  chert  in  the 
lower  part   356  486 


130  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Log  of  the  Tri-City  Railway  Company's  well  in  Prospect  Park,  Moline, 
near  the  center  of  the  east  line  of  sec.  8,  T.17  N.,  R.l  W . — Concluded 

Thickness        Depth 
Feet  Feet 

Ordovician  system — 
Cincinnatian  series 
Maquoketa  shale 

Shale,  gray  and  dark  gray,  containing  fragments  of  brach- 
iopods  above,  and  bituminous  material  in  the  lower  part. .   235  721 

Mohawkian  series — 

Platteville  and  Galena  limestones — 

Dolomite,    gray    and    yellowish-gray,    with    some    chert    in 

lower  part   200  921 

Limestone,   yellowish-gray   and    bluish-gray,   fissile,    with   a 

little   chert    130  1051 

Clay,  greenish-gray,  with  rounded  grains  of  sand 40  1091 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 

Sandstone,  in  clean  rounded  quartz  grains 40  1131 

Clay  or  shale,  greenish-gray,  pyritiferous 30  1161 

Canadian  series — 

Prairie  du  Chien  limestone — 

Limestone  (Shakopee)    419  1580 

Sandstone,  hard  and  soft  (New  Richmond) 60  1640 

Limestone,  hard  and  soft 265  1915 

Limestone  and  shale  10  1925 

Sandstone,  hard  and  soft   30  1955 

Limestone    25  1980 

Cambrian  system — 
"Potsdam"  series — 

Sandstone   110  2090 

Shale,  sandy    60  2150 

Limestone  and  shale,  with  salt  water 50  2200 

Shale,  sandy 65  2265 

Sandstone    103  2368 

A  driller's  record  of  the  strata  penetrated  in  the  deep  well  in  the  town 
of  Milan  is  given  below.  The  elevation  of  the  curb  above  sea  level  is  566 
feet. 

Log  of  the  Milan  city  well,  located  on  the  south  bank  of  Rock  River 

.     .  Thickness     Total  depth 

Description  of  strata  Fegf  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent  series — 

Alluvium     7  7 

Devonian  system — 

Middle  Devonian — 

Wapsipinicon  and  Cedar  Valley  limestones — 

Limestone,  white   (estimated)    58  65 

Silurian  system — 

Niagaran  series — 

Limestone,  white    325  390 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      STRATIGRAPHY  131 

Log  of  the  Milan  city  well,  located  on  the  South  bank  of  Rock  River — Concluded. 

Thickness        Depth 
Feet  Feet 

Ordovician  system — 
Cincinnatian  series — 
Maquoketa  shale — 

Shale,   gray    160  550 

Shale,  with  streaks  of  limestone 55  605 

Mohawkian  series — 
Galena  limestone — 

Limestone,  brown    95  700 

Limestone,  white    140  840 

Platteville  limestone — 

Limestone,    brownish    90  930 

Shale   30  960 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 

Sand,  quartz,  in  rounded  grains 90  1050 

Limestone,  sandy,  or  calcareous  sandstone 10  1060 

Sand  and  limestone,  with  some  shale 35  1095 

Sandstone,  hard  and  sharp   20  1115 

Marl,  red    10  1125 

Canadian  series — 

Prairie  du  Chien  limestone — 
Limestone,  white  (Shakopee  dolomite) 32  1157 

A  log  of  the  Mitchell  and  Lynde  well  in  Rock  Island,  was  furnished 
by  J.  H.  Southwell  as  follows.  The  elevation  of  the  curb  was  558  feet 
above  sea  level. 

Log  of  the  Mitchell  and  Lynde  well,  located  between  East  and  West 
Seventeenth  Streets,  north  of  Second  Avenue,  in  Rock  Island 

Thickness     Total  depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Devonian  system — 

Limestone  60  60 

Silurian  system — 

Limestone    (Niagaran)     276  336 

Ordovician  system — 

Shale  (Maquoketa)    180  ?  516 

Limestone   (Galena)    353  ?  869 

Limestone    (Platteville)    90  959 

Sandstone  (St.  Peter)    186  1145 

Limestone  (Prairie  du  Chien)    811  1956 

Cambrian  system — 

Sandstone,  compact ■ 30  1986 

Limestone     35  2021 

Sandstone    130  2151 

Limestone,  shaly 75  2226 

Sandstone   97  2323 


132  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

There  is  given  below  a  record  of  the  strata  penetrated  in  a  well  drilled 
by  the  Rock  Island  Brewing  Company  in  Rock  Island.  The  elevation  of 
the  curb  is  654  feet  above  sea  level. 

Log  of  the  Rock  Island  Brewing  Company's  well,  on  Elm  Street,  near 
Ninth  Avenue,  in  Rock  Island 

Thickness     Total  depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  and  Pennsylvanian  systems — 

Undifferentiated    100  100 

Devonian  system — 

Middle  Devonian  series — 

Wapsipinicon  and  Cedar  Valley  limestones — 

Limestone,  gray,  with  some  shale  in  the  lower  20  feet 50  150 

Silurian  system — 
Niagaran  series 

Dolomite,  yellowish-brown,  with  cavities  filled   with  sandy 

shale  375  525 

Ordovician  system — 
Cincinnatian  series— 
Maquoketa  shale — 

Shale,  bluish  gray   205  730 

Mohawkian  series — 

Galena  and   Platteville  limestones — 

Limestone 330  1060 

Shale,  blue   25  1085 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 

Sandstone,  with  some  shale  below 204  1289 

Canadian  series — 

Prairie  du  Chien  limestone — 

Limestone,    with   some   caving    shale    and    rotten    limestone 

(Shakopee  dolomite)   315  1604 

Cambrian  system — 
"Potsdam"  series — 

Not  described   346  1950 

Sandstone  of  various  colors   207  2157 

THE  GENERALIZED  SECTION 

From  a  study  of  the  well  records  above  described,  supplemented  by 
data  from  some  other  wells  in  this  vicinity,  the  general  character  and  thick- 
ness of  the  underlying  rocks  penetrated  in  deep  drillings,  but  nowhere  ex- 
posed in  the  quadrangles,  are  known  with  a  fair  degree  of  accuracy. 

Cambrian  System 
"potsdam"  series 
In  the  Mitchell  and  Lynde  well  a  change  from  dolomite  to  compact 
sandstone  was  reported  at  a  depth  of  1,956  feet.     A  similar  change  at  the 
base  of  this  dolomite  was  noted  in  the  well  at  the  Glucose  Factory  in  Daven- 
port, a  short  distance  north  of  the  Milan  quadrangle.     The  347  feet  of  rock 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      CAMBRIAN    SYSTEM  133 

penetrated  below  the  depth  of  1,956  feet  in  the  Mitchell  and  Lynde  boring 
consisted  of  compact  sandstone,  30  feet;  limestone,  35  feet;  sandstone,  130 
feet;  shaly  limestone  and  shale,  75  feet;  sandstone,  97  feet.  In  the  well 
at  the  Glucose  Factory  in  Davenport,  the  corresponding  strata  as  far  as 
explored  were  reported  as  follows :  shale,  40  feet ;  sandy  limestone,  20  feet ; 
sandy  rock,  160  feet;  shale,  50  feet.  Some  of  the  sand  in  this  part  of 
the  boring  is  said  to  be  red.  In  the  record  of  the  Rock  Island  Brewing 
Company's  well,  on  Elm  Street,  the  strata  penetrated  below  1,950  feet  were 
said  to  consist  of  "sand  rock  of  various  colors."  In  the  log  of  the  Tri- 
City  Railway  well  in  Prospect  Park,  in  Moline,  the  strata  beneath  the  Or- 
dovician  dolomites  are  described  as  follows:  sand  rock,  110  feet;  sandy 
shale,  60  feet;  limestone  and  shale  with  salt  water,  50  feet;  sandy  shale, 
65  feet;  sand  rock,  3  feet. 

Ordovician  System 
prairie  du  chien  limestone 
The  reported  thickness  of  the  Prairie  du  Chien  limestone  in  the  Mitchell 
and  Lynde  well  is  811  feet.  In  the  Paper  Mill  well  in  Moline  487  feet  of 
this  formation  was  penetrated,  and  122  feet  of  sandstone  is  reported  as 
occurring  between  315  to  437  feet  below  the  St.  Peter  sandstone.  From 
samples  of  rock  drillings  from  the  City  Park  well  in  Davenport,  which 
explored  the  upper  600  feet  of  this  formation,  some  of  the  rock  is  known 
to  consist  of  dolomite  with  more  or  less  sand,  and  it  also  contains  some 
green  shale  and  some  glauconite.  The  sandstone  reported  in  the  record  of 
the  Paper  Mill  well,  between  the  depths  1,456  and  1,587  feet,  is  probably 
equivalent  to  the  New  Richmond  sandstone  member  of  the  Prairie  du  Chien 
limestone. 

ST.   PETER  SANDSTONE 

The  St.  Peter  sandstone  is  an  important  source  of  artesian  water  in 
northern  Illinois  and  eastern  Iowa,  and  it  has  been  penetrated  by  almost 
all  of  the  deep  water  wells  in  this  region.  In  the  most  of  the  records  of 
deep  wells  in  the  quadrangles  a  bed  of  shale  is  reported  immediately  above 
and  another  below  the  main  bed  of  St.  Peter  sandstone.  The  normal  sand- 
stone is  composed  of  well-rounded  grains  of  clear  quartz,  remarkably  free 
from  impurities  of  any  kind.  The  thickness  of  this  formation  recorded  in 
the  various  logs  of  deep  wells  in  the  quadrangles  ranges  from  50  to  186 
feet,  the  average  being  nearly  100  feet.  The  shaly  material  in  the  basal  part 
of  the  formation  is  quite  variable.  In  the  Prospect  Park  well  it  is  a  green 
shale;  in  the  Paper  Mill  well  it  is  reported  as  a  red  marl;  and  in  the  log 
of  the  Milan  city  well  it  was  described  as  "sand  and  limestone  with  shale 
and  crevices,"  and  some  hard  sharp  sandstone  resting  on  ten  feet  of  red 
marl.  The  average  thickness  of  these  variable,  basal,  beds  of  the  St.  Peter 
formation,  as  given  in  the  various  records,  is  37  feet. 


134  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

The  shale  reported  immediately  above  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  is  green- 
ish and  probably  belongs  to  the  basal  Platteville.  In  the  Paper  Mill  well 
from  which  the  greatest  thickness  of  this  part  of  the  section  was  reported, 
it  was  said  to  be  sandy,  and  contained  streaks  of  sandstone.  Elsewhere  it 
has  been  found  to  contain  rounded  grains  of  sand  and  some  white  chert 
with  a  peculiar  reticulated  structure.  It  usually  contains  marcasite,  and 
some  dark  and  more  indurated  shale.  In  six  borings  in  or  near  the  qua- 
drangles the  average  thickness  of  this  shale  horizon  was  about  40  feet. 

PLATTEVILLE   LIMESTONE 

The  rock  overlying  the  shale  above  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  is  a  gray, 
non-magnesian  limestone,  highly  fissile  in  the  direction  of  its  bedding  planes. 
Some  of  the  layers  contain  chert,  and  imbedded  quartz  sand  grains  of 
variable  color.  Fragments  of  bryozoa  and  other  fossils  have  been  noted 
in  some  of  the  drillings  of  the  Platteville.  Drillers  usually  have  not  re- 
ported this  formation  separately  from  the  overlying  Galena,  but  its  meas- 
ured thickness  in  four  wells  averaged  nearly  100  feet,  and  ranged  from  85 
to  130  feet. 

GALENA  DOLOMITE 

The  Galena  formation  is  usually  a  dolomite,  the  upper  50  feet  of  which 
is  compact  and  light  gray,  below  which  the  color  changes  to  yellowish  gray 
and  the  texture  becomes  more  porous.  The  lower,  yellowish  rock  in  places 
contains  some  chert  and  quartz  sand  grains  of  various  colors.  At  a  level 
about  100  feet  below  the  top  of  the  formation,  structures  resembling  sphe- 
rules of  oolite  have  been  distinguished  in  some  of  the  drillings.  The  porous 
portion  of  the  Galena  dolomite  usually  furnishes  an  abundant  supply  of 
water,  but  it  is  nearly  always  more  highly  charged  with  hydrogen  sulphide 
gas  than  the  water  from  any  other  deep  water-bearing  horizon  in  this  region. 
In  four  wells  where  it  has  been  separately  measured,  the  thickness  of  the 
Galena  ranged  from  200  to  353  feet,  with  an  average  of  260  feet.  In  two 
wells  where  the  Galena  and  the  Platteville  have  not  been  separately  meas- 
ured, the  average  combined  thickness  was  395  feet.  The  average  thickness 
of  the  Galena  dolomite  reported  in  all  of  the  deep  wells  in  and  near  the 
cities  of  Rock  Island,  Moline,  and  Davenport  is  about  262  feet. 

MAQUOKETA    SHALE 

The  lithologic  characters  of  the  Maquoketa  shale  are  quite  constant  in 
the  different  wells  in  this  immediate  region,  and  certain  features  of  lithology 
and  texture  are  characteristic  of  certain  horizons  within  the  formation.  The 
uppermost  120  to  150  feet  of  the  formation  consists  of  light  greenish-gray 
shale,  with  little  calcareous  material,  except  in  places  near  the  top  where 
fragments  of  calcareous  shells  are  common,  and  sand  is  also  present.  A 
short  distance  below  the  middle  of  the  formation  the  shale  becomes  gray 


EDGINGTON-MILAN  AREA:      ORDOVICIAN    SYSTEM  135 

and  more  calcareous.  At  this  horizon  crinoid  segments,  bryozoa,  and  other 
fossils  are  usually  present  in  greater  or  less  numbers.  Marcasite  is  most 
abundant  in  a  zone  extending  from  the  base  of  this  fossiliferous  horizon 
down  to  within  20  feet  of  the  base  of  the  formation.  The  lower  20  to  50 
feet  of  the  Maquoketa  consists  of  dark,  in  places  almost  black,  bituminous 
shale,  which  contains  a  considerable  amount  of  combustible  matter.  It  also 
contains  some  peculiar  microscopic,  brownish-yellow  flakes  which  have  an 
irregular  outline  and  uneven  surface,  and  some  minute  irregular  agglomer- 
ations of  extremely  small  particles  suggestive  of  flocculation  in  the  forma- 
tion of  these  sediments.  These  agglomerations  occur  sparingly  throughout 
the  thickness  of  the  Maquoketa,  but  are  most  abundant  in  the  dark  shale 
near  the  base  where  they  appear  to  be  composed  of  a  greater  number  of 
particles  than  in  the  gray  and  green  shale  at  higher  levels.  Layers  of  dark 
and  gray  dolomite  in  places  occur  at  various  levels  in  the  formation.  The 
measured  thickness  of  the  Maquoketa  in  seven  wells  in  the  quadrangles 
ranges  from  170  to  235  feet,  the  average  being  204  feet. 

Silurian  System 
n i  ag  aran  limestone 

The  Silurian  strata  in  this  region  are  dolomitic,  and  are  of  Niagaran 
age.  The  upper  third  of  the  formation  is  a  porous,  and  mostly  coarsely 
crystalline  dolomite  which  corresponds  to  the  phase  to  which  the  name  Le- 
claire  limestone  has  been  applied  by  the  Iowa  geologists.1  This  phase  of 
the  Niagaran  dolomite  outcrops  on  both  sides  of  Mississippi  River  a  short 
distance  above  the  town  of  Hampton,  about  12  miles  northeast  of  the  Milan 
quadrangle.  The  rock  contains  molds  of  brachiopods  and  crinoid  stems,  and 
is  yellow  where  exposed,  although  the  cuttings  obtained  from  wells  are  more 
often  white  and  granular.  The  lower  half  of  the  Niagaran  limestone  is  of 
finer  texture,  somewhat  softer,  and  less  porous  than  the  upper  part,  and 
shows  dark  streaks  and  blotches  due  to  oxide  of  manganese.  In  some  wells 
very  hard  dolomite  has  been  penetrated  near  the  middle  part  of  the  Niag- 
aran. A  thickness  of  forty  feet  or  less  in  the  basal  part  of  the  Silurian 
limestone  contains  several  layers  of  chert  or  flint. 

The  upper  half  of  the  formation  is  water-bearing  and  is  the  source 
from  which  many  deep  farm  wells  in  the  surrounding  country  obtain  their 
supply  of  water.  The  Niagaran  limestone  has  many  solution  caverns,  most 
of  which  are  filled  with  sand  and  green  clay.  Seven  measurements  of  the 
thickness  of  the  Niagaran  limestone  in  the  well  records  of  these  quadrangles 
range  from  276  to  375  feet,  the  average  being  330  feet.  This  variation  in 
thickness  is  thought  to  be  mostly  due  to  an  erosional  unconformity  between 
the  Niagaran  and  the  overlying  Devonian  limestone. 

iNorton,  W.  H.,  Geology  of  Scott  County,  Ann.  Rept.  Iowa  Geol.  Survey,  vol.  IX, 
p.   423.  1898. 


136 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


ROCKS  EXPOSED  IN  OR  NEAR  THE  EDGINGTON  AND 
MILAN  QUADRANGLES 

Devonian  System 

wapsipinicon  and  cedar  valley  limestones 

The  Devonian  rocks  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  are  about 
140  feet  thick,  and  consist  mostly  of  limestone,  with  some  shale  and  some 
dolomite.  These  should  all  be  regarded  as  of  upper  Devonian  age,  and 
represent  the  Wapsipinicon  and  Cedar  Valley  stages.     They  outcrop  only 


Fig.  16. — Thin-bedded  limestone  just  below  the  horizon  of  the  Acervularia  davidsoni 
coral-reef  horizon.     The  slightly  overhanging-  layer  in  the  upper  right-hand 
side  of  the  ledge  is  the  coral  reef  rock.     Exposure  on  Mill  Creek  near  Milan. 

in  and  near  the  valleys  of  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  in  this  region,  but 
probably  underlie  the  entire  extent  of  the  quadrangles.  The  general  sec- 
tion of  Devonian  strata  exposed  near  and  within  the  limits  of  the  quad- 
rangles is  given  below : 

Generalized  section  of  the  Devonian  limestone  in  and  near  the 
Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 

Thickness 
Feet 
10.  Dolomite,  yellowish-gray  to  brown,  compact,  in  layers  ^  to  2  feet  thick, 
alternating  with  thinner  layers  of  clayey  shale,  containing  many  Strom- 
atoporoids,  Zaphrentis  sp.,  Stropheodonta  cf.  concava,  Spirifer  iowensis, 
S.  subvaricosa,  and  Atrypa  reticularis;  exposed  along  several  of  the 
creeks  within  a  few  miles  both  east  and  west  of  Andalusia 20 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      DEVONIAN    SYSTEM  137 


Generalized  section  of  the  Devonian  limestone  in  and  near  the  Milan 
and    Edgington    quadrangles — Continued. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Limestone,  thin  bedded,  gray,  with  partings  of  shale ;  containing  Stroma- 
toporoids,  Stropheodonta  demissa,  Schizophoria  iowensis,  Athyris  ful- 
tonensis,  Atrypa  reticularis  (large  shells),  Gomphoceras  cf.  ajax,  and 
other  fossils ;  exposed  near  the  mouths  of  a  few  of  the  streams  within 
V/2  miles  east  and  west  of  Andalusia,  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Buffalo,  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river 4 

Dolomite,  yellowish-gray,  in  layers  12  inches  or  less  thick;  containing 
Cystodictya  hamiltonensis,  Stropheodonta  demissa,  Athyris  fultonensis, 
Spirifcr  asper,  Spirifer  euryteines,  Spirifcr  subvaricosus,  Cyrtina  hamil- 
tonensis, Atrypa  reticularis   (small  shells),  and  other   fossils 6 

Limestone;  the  upper  W2  feet  is  a  coral  reef  (fig.  16),  containing  a  pro- 
fusion of  corals,  and  other  fossils,  of  which  Acervularia  davidsoni,  A. 
profunda,  Cystiphyllum  cf.  americanum,  Favosites  placenta,  Alveolites 
goldfussi,  Cladopora  sp.,  and  Atrypa  reticularis  are  common.  At  the 
base  is  an  organic  sand  or  breccia  which  in  places  projects  by  inter- 
secting vertical  plates  into  the  underlying  layer.  This  bed  is  exposed 
in  the  bank  of  the  river  below  Andalusia.  On  account  of  its  resistance 
to  weathering  it  forms  small  rapids  in  a  number  of  the  small  creeks 
on  the  north  side  of  the  river  below  Linwood,  and  forms  the  capping 
of  the  Devonian  outcrops  above  Buffalo,  and  in  the  right  bank  of  Mill 
Creek  near  the  center  of  sec.  25,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  where  it  is  the 
highest  layer  of  Devonian  limestone  exposed 8 

Limestone,  impure,  bluish-gray,  crinoidal,  thin-bedded,  weathering  yel- 
low ;  containing  the  fossils  Cladopora  iowensis,  Striatopora  rugosa, 
Megistocrinus  latus,  Stropheodonta  demissa,  Leptostrophia  perplana, 
Chonetcs  scitulus,  Spirifer  asper,  Spirifer  euryteines,  Spirifer  iozvensis, 
Spirifer  subvaricosus,  Cyrtina  umbonata,  and  Dinichthys  pustulo- 
sus ;  exposed  at  most  of  the  localities  where  the  overlying  coral  reef 
outcrops    5 

Limestone,  blue,  argillaceous,  fine  grained,  with  oblique  fracture,  weather- 
ing more  rapidly  than  the  overlying  or  underlying  strata ;  containing 
Spirophyton  sp.,  Streptelasma  rectum,  Stropheodonta  demissa,  Lepto- 
strophia perplana,  Chonetes  scitulus,  Spirifer  iowensis,  Spirifer  sub- 
varicosus, Cyrtina  umbonata,  Atrypa  reticularis,  Atrypa  asp  era  var. 
hystrix,  and  other  fossils.  This  limestone  is  exposed  in  the  abandoned 
quarry  near  the  corner  of  Fifth  Avenue  and  Thirty-fifth  Street  in  Rock 
Island ;  it  forms  the  beach  of  the  river  front  in  Buffalo,  and  outcrops 
in  the  quarries  near  Linwood  and  Buffalo,  and  in  the  banks  of  nearly 
all  of  the  creeks  north  of  Mississippi  River,  and  it  is  the  most  con- 
spicuous part  of  the  Devonian  section  along  Mill  Creek,  in  sec.  25, 
T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W 20 

Limestone,  fine  grained,  rather  thin  bedded,  the  layers  separated  by  part- 
ings of  greenish  shale;  containing  the  fossils  Acervularia  davidsoni,  Hel- 
iophyllum  halli,  Cystiphyllum  americanum,  C.  sulcatum,  Favosites  al- 
penensis,  Schizophoria  iowensis,  Pentamerella   dubia,  Productella  sub- 


138 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Generalised  section  of  the  Devonian  limestone  in  and  near  the  Milan 
and    Edgington    quadrangles — Continued. 

Thickness 
Feet 
alata,  Spirifer  asper,  S.  bimesialis,  Cyrtina  umbonata,  and  many  other 
fossils.    This  is  the  upper  rock  formerly  quarried  in  Rock  Island,  Sears, 

and  on  Mill  Creek   5 

imestone,  hard,  gray,  in  indistinct  layers  V2  to  2  feet  thick ;  containing 
Astreospongia  hamiltonensis,  Stromatoporoids,  Heliophyllum  halli,  Cho- 
nophyllum  magnificum,  DiplophyUum  cf.  archiaci,  Phillipsastrea  billingsi, 
Cystiphyllnm  sulcatum,  Favosites  alpenensis,  Spirifer  subundiferus, 
Phacops  rana,  and  Dinichthys  pustulosus.  This  limestone  outcrops  near 
the  railroad  bridge  across  Mill  Creek,  and  near  the  wagon  bridges 
across  Rock  River ;  it  is  the  main  horizon  formerly  worked  in  the  old 
quarries  in  Rock  Island,  and  near  Milan,  and  in  the  west  part  of  Daven- 
port, and  it  is  exposed  in  several  places  in  the  north  bank  of  the  Mis- 
sissippi as  far  west  as  Linwood    7 


Fig.  17. — Fhotograph  showing  the  character  of  the  brecciated  limestone  in  the 

basal  part  of  the  Devonian,  near  Rock  Island,  Illinois. 

(No.  2  of  the  g-eneralized  section  of  the  Devonian  limestone.) 

Limestone,  white  to  dark  gray,  fine  grained,  with  few  fossils ;  in  layers  V2 
to  3V2  feet  thick,  in  places  finely  laminated,  and  showing  dome-like 
convexities  from  V2  to  1  foot  in  diameter ;  usually  much  fractured  and 
brecciated  into  fragments  from  1  inch  to  2  feet  in  diameter ;  worked  in 
the  Cady  quarry  in  East  Moline,  and  exposed  in  the  south  bank  of 
the  Mississippi  in  the  city  of  Rock  Island,  and  in  the  quarries  around 
Oakdale  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  and  on  Horse,  Suburban,  Sylvan, 
and  Rock  (Government)  islands.  It  forms  the  main  bed  rock 
in  the  Rock  River  valley  between  Milan  and  Sears,  and  is  exposed  in 
the  bed  of  Mill  Creek  near  the  Railroad  Bridge  in  sec.  25,  T.  17  N., 
R.  2  W 50 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      DEVONIAN    SYSTEM  139 

Generalised  section  of  the  Devonian  limestone  in  and  near  the  Milan 
and    Edgington    quadrangles — Concluded. 

Thickness 
Feet 
1.  Limestone,  white  to  yellowish  gray,  fine  grained,  not  brecciated,  in  ir- 
regular layers  some  of  which  are  porous  and  more  or  less  bituminous ; 
containing  spherical  concretions  of  chalcedonic  quartz  and  numerous 
shells  of  Spirifer  subumbonus.  One  of  the  layers,  1  to  2  feet  thick,  is 
crowded  with  shells  of  Spirifer  subumbonus.  This  basal  Devonian  lime- 
stone is  exposed  on  the  east  side  of  Campbells  Island,  about  4  miles 
northeast  of  the  Milan  quadrangle,  and  on  the  Illinois  side  of  the  river 
opposite  this  locality,  and  was  partly  explored  in  deepening  the  Sylvan 
channel  above  the  Moline  bridge  near  the  east  end  of  Rock  Island 
(Government  Island).     Exposed  9  feet,,  estimated  thickness 20 

In  the  south  part  of  the  Milan  and  in  the  Edgington  quadrangles,  sev- 
eral borings  have  pased  through  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks,  and  entered  the 
Devonian  limestone  at  depths  varying  usually  from  150  to  250  feet;  but 
in  a  few  of  the  wells  in  the  south  part  of  the  Milan  quadrangle  the  depth 
to  the  top  of  the  Devonian  exceeds  300  feet.  The  greater  depth  to  the 
limestone  in  this  part  of  the  area  suggests  that  it  may  here  be  overlain  by 
a  remnant  of  the  Sweetland  Creek  (Upper  Devonian)  shale,  as  it  is  in 
places  in  the  north  part  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle  in  Muscatine  County, 
Iowa,  and  in  Schuyler  County  and  elsewhere  in  Illinois ;  but  this  shale  is 
not  exposed  in  the  Illinois  portion  of  the  quadrangles. 

The  Devonian  limestone  above  described  falls  readily  into  three  easily 
distinguishable  horizons,  as  follows : 

Upper  horizon  : 

Dolomites  and  limestones,  in  places  shaly,  including  numbers  8,  9,  and  10  of 

the  preceding  general  section. 
Middle  horizon  : 

Limestones,  mostly  shaly,  including  numbers  3,  4,  5,  6,  and  7  of  the  preceding 

general   section. 
Lower  horizon  : 

Limestone,  mostly  brecciated  except  in  basal  part,  with  few  fossils,  including 

numbers  1  and  2  of  the  preceding  general  section. 

During  the  time  of  deposition  of  these  limestones  there  seem  to  have 
occurred  several  changes  in  the  sedimentary  process.  The  lower  group  of 
limestones  is  mainly  composed  of  a  calcareous  slime  which  may  have  ac- 
cumulated rather  rapidly.  The  middle  group  of  shaly  limestones  (fig.  18) 
contains  fossils  which  in  places  in  the  lower  half  are  worn  and  more  or 
less  etched,  and  may  represent  levels  of  corrasion  by  submarine  currents. 
The  upper  part  of  this  group  consists  of  crinoidal  limestone  deposited  in 
quiet  waters  where  even  the  delicate  arms  and  calyx  portions  of  large  crinoids 
could  be  occasionally  imbedded,  and  thus  become  preserved.  These  quiet 
conditions  of  crinoid  growth  were  followed  rather  abruptly  by  widespread 


140 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


coral  growth  in  such  numbers  that  the  accumulation  of  their  hard  parts 
formed  a  coral  reef  (fig.  16)  over  all  of  this  region,  constituting  the  basal 
member  of  the  upper  group.  The  thickness  of  the  Devonian  is  different 
in  different  parts  of  the  quadrangles,  partly  on  account  of  the  erosional 
uncomformity  both  above  and  below  it,  and  partly  as  a  result  of  the  gen- 
eral dip  toward  the  southwest  of  about  6  feet  to  the  mile.  West  of  Oak- 
dale  the  southwestward  dip  is  more  than  12  feet  per  mile.  The  average 
slope  of  the  upper  surface  of  the  Devonian  is  about  9  feet  to  the  mile  in 
a  nearly  southward  direction.  This  difference  in  the  direction  of  slope  of 
the  old  erosion  plane,  and  of  the  dip,  indicates  that  the  limestone  is  thickest 
in  the  southwest  part  of  the  area,  and  thins  toward  the  northeast. 


Fig.  13. — Shaly  limestone  in  the  middle  part  of  the  Devonian  section, 

along  Mill  Creek,  near  Milan,   Illinois. 

(No.  5  of  the  generalized  section  of  the  Devonian  limestone.) 

In  the  country  east  of  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers, 
the  pre-Pennsylvanian  erosion  of  the  Devonian  removed  all  of  the  upper 
group  and  most  of  the  middle  one,  while  west  of  this  junction  probably  all 
of  the  middle  group,  and  nearly  all  of  the  upper  one  is  usually  present. 

SWEETLAND  CREEK  SHALE 

The  Sweetland  Creek  shale  (fig.  19)  is  brown  to  black  in  color,  and 
contains  numerous  spores  of  a  fern-like  plant  called  Sporangites  huronense. 
This  shale  is  well  exposed  in  the  bed  and  banks  of  Sweetland  Creek,  in 
sees.  22  and  27,  T.  77  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and  in  a  few  other  places  north  of  Mis- 
sissippi River  in  the  Edgington  quadrangle.     A  brown  shale  ranging  from 


EDGINGTON-MII  AN    AREA:      DEVONIAN    SYSTEM 


141 


a  few  feet  to  thirty  feet  thick  was  reported  immediately  above  the  Devon- 
ian limestone  in  the  driller's  logs  of  a  number  of  coal-test  borings  in 
Buffalo  Prairie  Township.     This  shale  is  thought  to  represent  the  Upper 


Fig.  19. — Sweetland  Creek  shale,  along  Sweetland  Creek  in  the 
northwest  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle. 


Devonian   (Sweetland  Creek)   shale  which  is  known  to  be  present  at  this 
horizon  in  many  places  farther  east  and  south  in  Illinois. 

Mississippian  System 
Strata  of  Mississippian  age  appear  to  be  entirely  absent  from  this  im- 
mediate region,  although  chert  masses  are  in  places  found  in  the  basal  con- 
glomerate of  the  Pottsville  that  contain  casts  of  Mississippian  fossils  which 
indicate  that  the  lower  Mississippian  strata  had  originally  been  deposited 
over  the  entire  quadrangles  and  possibly  much  farther  north,  but  they  were 
removed  by  erosion  prior  to  the  deposition  of  the  Pottsville  sediments. 

Pennsylvanian  System 
The  Pennsylvanian  system  is  represented  in  the  Edgington  and  Milan 
quadrangles  by  rocks  of  Pottsville  and  McLeansboro  age  and  some  Carbon- 
dale  strata  are  also  thought  to  be  present. 


142 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   191! 


The  strata  of  Pennsylvanian  age  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadran- 
gles are  known  from  numerous  outcrops,  and  also  by  means  of  test  bor- 
ings. Their  character  is  shown  in  the  generalized  columnar  section  in  fig- 
ure 15,  and  on  the  following  pages  by  means  of  sections  and  descriptions  of 
outcrops. 

The  greatest  known  thickness  of  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  in  the  Milan 
and  Edgington  quadrangles  is  in  the  SW.  cor.  SW.  %  SE.  14  sec.  27,  Buf- 


Fig.  20. 


-Contact  of  the  Devonian  limestone  and  the  basal  Pottsville  conglomerate, 
near  Andalusia,   Illinois. 


falo  Prairie  Township,  where  a  depth  of  231  feet  of  these  rocks  was  re- 
ported in  a  test  boring.  In  the  south  part  of  the  Milan  quadrangle,  where 
the  greatest  thickness  might  be  expected  on  account  of  the  southeastward 
dip  of  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  and  the  southward  inclination  of  the  upper 
surface  of  the  Devonian,  the  thickness  of  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  is  not 
known  to  exceed  150  feet. 

In  the  north  third  of  the  Milan  quadrangle  the  thickness  of  the  Penn- 
sylvanian rocks  ranges  from  a  few  feet,  where  present  at  all,  to  about  100 
feet,  probably  averaging  about  50  feet.     In  the  middle  third  of  this  quad- 


EDGINGTON-MTLAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  143 

rangle  the  average  thickness  is  probably  near  100  feet,  and  in  the  south 
third,  the  average  thickness  is  perhaps  150  feet.  In  the  west  half  of  the 
Milan  quadrangle  the  average  thickness  of  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  is  prob- 


i 

* 

k"- 

^K*:V  '  ri^^E^   ' 

• 

I^^T^***"" 

-    -  — ■ 

:.-.?. _i__.± 

MbbIS  "**•?  P6*^ 

fe«;    : 

"        *  ,**fflHP! 

■<jlBBWwfi^S^CBiS~- 

^ ^~«^*~--^ 

— .^"^-^rrr^s^B 

Fig.  21. — Old  caverns  in  the  Devonian  limestone,  the  Pottsville  filling  of  which 
has  been  removed  by  the  river. 

ably  50  feet  greater  than  in  the  east  half.  In  the  Edgington  quadrangle  the 
average  thickness  of  these  strata  in  twenty-one  measured  records  is  170^ 
feet. 

DESCRIPTION    OF    OUTCROPS 
POTTSVILLE    FORMATION 

The  Pottsville  formation  includes  all  of  the  rocks  from  the  base  of 
the  Pennsylvanian  system  up  to  the  base  of  the  Murphysboro  or  No.  2  coal 
bed,  and  is  thought  to  about  correspond  in  age  to  the  Pottsville  (lowest 
Pennsylvanian)  formation  of  the  Appalachian  region.  Stratigraphically  it 
is  the  lowest  Pennsylvanian  formation  in  the  quadrangles,  over  the  whole  of 
which  it  probably  underlies  the  surficial  deposits  except  in  limited  areas  near 
the  larger  streams  in  the  north  and  east  parts  where  in  places  it  has  been 
removed  by  erosion,  leaving  the  Devonian  limestone  immediately  beneath  the 
Pleistocene  materials. 

In  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  the  Pottsville  formation  con- 
sists of  variable  and  mostly  discontinuous  beds  of  sandstone,  shale,  con- 
glomerate, coal,  and  thin  limestone  which  were  deposited  on  the  shoreward 
part  of  an  advancing  sea,  producing  an  overlapping  succession  of  more  or 
less  lenticular  strata.  The  advance  of  this  sea  was  probably  interrupted  at 
different  times  so  that  minor  unconformities  which  are  difficult  to  distin- 
guish in  this  region  probably  occur  at  different  levels.     On  account  of  this 


144 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR    1917   AND   1918 


variable  and  lenticular  character  of  the  strata  it  has  not  been  possible  to 
identify  any  easily  recognized  stratigraphic  units  in  the  Pottsville  which 
persist  over  all  of  the  quadrangles. 

The  basal  layers  of  the  Pottsville  formation  in  some  places  consist  of 
conglomerate   (fig.  20),  in  others  of  shale   (fig.  22),  and  in  still  others  of 


Fig.  22. — Unconformable  contact  of  the  Devonian  limestone  and  Pottsville  shale,  near 

the  south  lin<-   of  the  NW.    V4   sec.   13,  T.   17   N.,  R.  2  W.     A   4-inch  layer  of 

limonite  follows  the  upper  eroded  surface  of  the  Devonian.     The  two 

light  hummocks  are  elevations  of  the  Devonian,  covered  by  the 

limonite  layer.     Photograph  by   David  White. 


sandstone  (fig.  23).  The  contact  of  the  Devonian  and  Pottsville  sediments 
is  well  exposed  near  the  top  of  the  face  of  an  abandoned  stone  quarry  in 
the  city  of  Rock  Island,  about  200  feet  south  of  Fifth  Avenue,  west  of 
Thirty-fifth  Street.  The  upper  part  of  the  Devonian  at  this  place  con- 
sists of  yellowish-brown,  rather  thin-bedded  limestone,  having  the  upper 
surface  strongly  iron-stained.  This  limestone  is  overlain  by  a  thickness  of 
a  few  feet  of  brown  or  red,  sandy  conglomerate  composed  of  coarse  sand, 
and  pebbles  mostly  1  to  2  inches  in  diameter,  with  a  few  boulders  ranging 
up  to  12  inches.  All  of  the  pebbles  and  boulders  are  of  flint  or  chert.  At 
this  place  the  conglomerate  extends  down  into,  and  fills,  a  small  cavern  in 
the  underlying  Devonian  limestone.  Some  of  the  chert  boulders  in  the 
conglomerate  contain  imperfect  casts  of  fossils  among  which  the  following 
have  been  identified  by  Ulrich : 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM 


145 


Fossils  from  chert  boulders  in  the  basal  Pottsville  conglomerate.1 

Orthothctes,  near  an  unnamed  Waverly  and  Keokuk  species. 

Spirifer  keokuk  or  S.  leidyi;  cast  of  pedicle  valve. 

Productus  sp.,  may  be  either  P.  levicostatus  White  from  the  Burlington  limestone, 
or  P.  tenuico status  Hall,   from  the   St.   Louis  limestone. 

Bellerophon-\ike  shell,  undeterminate  cast. 

Rhombopora  sp.,  resembling  R.  dichotoma  Ulrich. 

The  fossils  listed  above  indicate  that  the  cherts  from  which  they  came 
are  of  Mississippian  age.  Some  Niagaran  cherts  are  also  present  in  this 
conglomerate. 


Fig.    23. — -Thin-bedded  sandstone   in   the  lower  part  of  the 

Pottsville,    formerly   quarried   in   sec.    7, 

Drury  Township. 

The  greatest  development  of  conglomerate  noted  in  the  basal  part  of 
the  Pottsville  was  in  the  west  bank  of  Mill  Creek,  about  one-fourth  mile 

'An  additional  list  of  fossils  from  this  conglomerate,  determined  by  Ulrich: 
Fenestella  binodata  Condra.  Fenestella  gracilis  Condra.  Fistulipora  carbonaria  Ulrich, 
Polypora  bassleri  Condra.     Meekopora  prosseri  Ulrich,  Stenopora  heteropora  Condra. 


146  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

southwest  of  the  center  of  sec.  31,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.  It  is  here  12  feet 
thick,  and  consists  of  layers  of  conglomerate,  1  to  U/2  feet  thick,  inter- 
bedded  with  layers  of  sandstone.  The  pebbles  range  in  size  up  to  4  inches 
in  diameter  and  are  all  siliceous,  ninety-eight  per  cent  of  them  being  chert 
and  the  remainder  white  quartz.  Casts  of  a  few  brachiopod  shells,  indi- 
cating Mississippian  age,  were  also  noted  in  these  pebbles.  A  similar  con- 
glomerate outcrops  in  a  ravine  a  short  distance  northeast  of  Doxie  School, 
in  sec.  30,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.  Another  exposure  of  conglomerate  occurs  in 
the  south  bank  of  a  creek,  about  200  yards  west  of  the  center  of  sec.  13, 
T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  where  the  deposit  consists  mostly  of  pebbles  2  to  3 
inches  in  diameter,  with  some  larger  boulders  up  to  8  inches,  cemented  to- 
gether with  yellow  calcite. 

In  some  places  the  Devonian  limestone  is  immediately  overlain  by 
Pottsville  sandstone,  with  no  intervening  conglomerate.  Such  an  outcrop 
occurs  near  the  mouth  of  Coal  Creek,  in  the  SE.  14  sec.  29,  T.  17  N.,  R. 
3  W.,  which  furnished  the  following  section. 

Section  of  strata  exposed  along  Coal  Creek  in  sec.  29,  T.  17  N '.,  R.  3  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 
Pennsylvanian   (Pottsville)   sandstone: 

Sandstone,  yellowish  gray,  micaceous,  thin  bedded 9 

Sandstone,  in  irregular  layers,  somewhat  shaly  in  lower  part 4 

Shale,  gray  and  brown,  sandy,  in  discontinuous  layers  of  variable 

thickness Vz-2 

Devonian  limestone : 

Dolomite,  yellowish  brown,  in  layers  V2  to  1  foot  thick,  containing 
the  fossils  Stropheodonta  demissa,  Spirifer  iowensis,  S.  subvari- 
cosa,  and  A  try  pa  reticularis   3-j- 

The  altitude  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  limestone  at  this  place  is  about 
563  feet.  This  is  7  feet  lower  than  the  top  of  the  Devonian  at  the  west 
end  of  the  wagon  bridge,  16  rods  farther  down  this  creek,  and  9  feet  lower 
than  the  top  of  the  Devonian  limestone  in  the  east  bank  of  the  creek  oppo- 
site the  exposure  at  the  bridge.  About  20  rods  up  the  creek  from  the  place 
where  the  above  section  was  made,  a  thickness  of  8^2  feet  of  somewhat 
cherty  Devonian  limestone  outcrops  to  an  altitude  of  about  566  feet  above 
sea  level.  Farther  west  an  outcrop  of  Devonian  limestone  in  the  Edging- 
ton  quadrangle  occurs  in  the  SE.  14  sec.  17,  Montpelier  Township,  on  the 
Iowa  side  of  the  river,  where  the  elevation  of  its  surface  reaches  588  feet, 
and  again  in  the  SW.  *4  sec.  27,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.,  where  the  altitude  is 
about  580  feet.  In  the  town  of  Cable,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  Milan 
quadrangle,  the  elevation  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  is  549  feet. 

The  basal  Pottsville  sandstone  and  shale  in  many  places  fill  cavernous 
depressions  and  passages  that  extend  for  a  considerable  distance  into  the 
Devonian  limestone  (see  fig.  21).     The  sandstone  is  mostly  white,  soft,  and 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  147 

moderately  coarse  grained;  the  grains  are  usually  angular  as  a  result  of 
secondary  crystalline  enlargement.  In  some  places  the  sand  contains  carbon- 
aceous material  in  the  form  of  wood  fragments.  The  sand  is  in  some 
localities  interlaminated  with  shale  which  may  be  green  and  unctuous,  or 
black  from  carbonaceous  material.  Pottsville  deposits  occurring  in  a  cavern 
in  the  Devonian  limestone  in  an  old  quarry  north  of  Fifth  Avenue,  near 
Twenty-eighth  Street,  in  Rock  Island,  showed  rill  marks  of  the  kind  once 
described  as  fossil  fern  leaves,  and  called  Dendrophycus.  In  the  south  bank 
of  Mississippi  River  between  Forty-second  and  Forty-fourth  streets  in 
Rock  Island,  the  Pottsville  sandstone  is  exposed  in  contact  with  the  Dev- 
onian limestone,  and  at  one  place  its  lowermost  layer  contains  brachiopods 
that  had  weathered  out  of  the  Devonian  limestone,  and  later  become  im- 
bedded in  the  basal  layer  of  the  overlying  Pottsville  formation.  In  the  old 
quarry  near  Thirty-fifth  Street  and  Fifth  Avenue,  in  Rock  Island,  a  cavern 
in  the  Devonian  more  than  20  feet  deep,  and  equally  wide,  is  filled  with 
Pottsville  shale  that  contains  impressions  of  Catamites,  and  leaves  of  ferns. 
The  wall  of  the  cavern  is  lined  with  a  layer  of  impure  limonite,  from  one 
inch  to  several  inches  thick,  in  the  form  of  gossan.  Such  a  limonite  deposit 
is  common  at  the  contact  of  the  Devonian-Pennsylvanian  unconformity  in 
all  of  this  region.  On  Mill  Creek  in  sec.  31,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  it  is  al- 
most everywhere  present  at  this  contact,  its  thickness  varying  from  6  inches 
to  2  feet.  It  is  also  exposed  in  the  bottom  of  a  creek  near  the  south  line 
of  the  NW.  %  sec.  13,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  where  it  covers  small,  dome-like 
elevations  of  the  Devonian  rock  surface  (fig.  22). 

In  one  place  in  a  mine  in  the  northeast  corner  of  sec.  20,  T.  77  N.,  R. 
2  E.,  coal  rests  directly  on  the  Devonian  limestone,  and  in  other  parts  of 
the  same  mine  a  thin  underclay  separated  the  coal  and  limestone.  Similar 
conditions  are  known  in  a  coal  mine  near  the  center  of  sec.  16,  of  the  same 
township,  as  shown  in  the  following  section : 

Section  of  shaft  of  coal  mine  near  the  center  of  sec.  16,  T.  77  N.,  R.  2  E. 

Thickness 
Ft.      In 

Clay,  yellow    5 

Shale,  soft,  light  gray   5 

Sandstone  14 

Shale    ("miner's  slate") ,  with  septaria    1 

Coal    2 

Underclay 12 

Shale,  light  gray,  and  "miner's  slate"   17 

Coal    2 

Shale,  light  gray,  and  "miner's  slate" 50 

Coal    4 

Underclay 2 

Limestone    (Devonian)     -f- 


148  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

In  the  shale  pit  formerly  worked  by  the  National  Coal  Company,  near 
Sears,  a  coal  bed  is  separated  by  only  a  few  feet  of  shale  from  the  Devon- 
ian limestone,  as  shown  in  the  section  given  below : 

Section  of  abandoned  clay  pit  of  the  National  Clay  Company,  in  the  bluff 
of  Rock  River,  near  Sears. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess 40 

Sandstone,  white,  friable,  with  impressions  of  Calamites  and  Stigmaria  8 

Shale,  dark,  containing  disintegrated  septaria,  and  other  concretions...  2 

Shale,  gray,  and  dark  gray   6 

Coal,    weathered    1 

Underclay,  unctuous,  in  places  red  or  variegated,  and  known  in  the  clay 

works  as  <(castile  clay"   3 

Shale,  dark  gray,  with  some  concretionary  material  in  the  upper  part..  8 

Coal    2 

Underclay,  white,  sandy       4 

Shale,  greenish-gray  1 

Limestone    (Devonian)    

In  the  north  bank  of  Rock  River,  at  Black  Hawk's  Watchtower  the 
succession  of  strata  described  below  is  exposed  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
bluff : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  at  Black  Hawk's  Watchtower,  east  of  Sears. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess 50 

Till,  leached,  not  well  exposed   3 

Sandstone,   coarse    10 

Sandstone,  dark,  soft,  shaly    2 

Shale,  dark 1 

Coal    1 

Shale,  dark,  and  underclay,  with  streaks  of  sandstone  and  coal,  not  well 

exposed  46 

Limestone    (Devonian)    4-f- 

About  three  miles  east  of  Andalusia  there  is  exposed  near  the  base 
of  the  Mississippi  bluffs  a  thickness  of  20  or  more  feet  of  sandstone,  in 
layers  1  to  iy2  feet  thick,  which  doubtless  lies  near  the  base  of  the  Potts- 
ville  formation. 

The  sections  given  above,  and  the  records  of  several  of  the  coal-test 
borings  in  the  quadrangles,  show  that  two  thin  coal  beds  are  generally  pres- 
ent and  in  many  places  three  or  more  coals  occur  in  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks 
of  this  region.  One  of  these  coals  lies  30  to  50  feet  below  the  horizon  of  the 
Herrin  (No.  6)  coal,  and  another  one  occurs  50  to  90  feet  higher  than  this 
lower  coal.  These  are  usually  thin,  but  in  a  few  places,  as  along  Coal 
Creek  west  of  Andalusia,  in  the  country  near  Buffalo,  and  along  a  creek 
near  the  west  side  of  sec.  13,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  they  have  been  profitably 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  149 

mined  by  drifts  for  local  use.  At  the  last-named  locality  the  coal  dips  from 
both  sides  at  the  rate  of  15  feet  in  a  distance  of  100  feet,  toward  a  trough 
or  syncline  which  extends  in  a  general  northwest-southeast  direction.  West 
of  Andalusia,  along  Coal  Creek,  and  in  the  banks  of  the  streams  that 
join  the  Mississippi  on  the  south,  between  Coal  Creek  and  Illinois  City, 
some  part  of  the  following  section  of  lower  Pennsylvanian  strata  is  exposed 
above  the  basal  sandstone  of  the  Pottsville  formation : 

General  section   of   the   Pennsylvanian  rocks,   exposed   along    Coal    Creek   and    other 
streams  south  of  Mississippi  River,  between  Andalusia  and  Illinois  City. 

Thickness 
McLeansboro  formation —  Feet 

15.    Sandstone,  thin  bedded,  gray  to  yellow,  micaceous 12 

14.    Shale,  gray,  sandy,  in  layers  1  to  6  inches  thick,  with  bands  of  sandstone 

and  thin  clay-ironstone  concretions   25 

13.    Coal   (locally  present) V2 

12.    Shale,   gray    4 

11.    Limestone,  concretionary,  argillaceous    (locally  absent) 1-4 

Carbondale  formation — 

10.     Coal,  Herrin  (No.  6)   bed  (  ?)  ;  locally  present 4-11 

Pottsville  formation — 

9.    Sandstone,  thin  bedded   4j/£ 

8.    Coal    (locally  present)    1-  IY2 

7.    Shale,  gray  to  dark,  with  many  small  concretions  of  clay-ironstone....         13 

6.    Coal    (locally  present)    ^2-1 V2 

5.    Sandstone,  gray,  micaceous,  in  thin  layers,  with  a  thicker  layer  at  the 


top    3 


4.  Shale,  gray  to  black,  the  middle  part  with  large  concretions  and  bands  of 
dark  nodular  limestone  the  surfaces  of  which  are  covered  with  "cone- 
in-cone"  structures,  and  in  places  nodules  covered  with  pisolite 21 

3.    Sandstone,  hard,  quartzitic,  in  two  layers \lA 

2.    Coal,  in  some  places   J^-2 

1.    Shale,  gray  to  dark   23 

In  the  banks  of  a  stream  in  the  NE.  %  sec.  36,  T.  17  N.,  R.  4  W., 
the  limestone  member,  number  11  in  the  foregoing  section,  is  3^2  feet  thick, 
and  contained  the  fossils  Girtyina  ventricosa,  Productus  cora,  Productus 
semireticidatus,  Spirifer  cameratus,  and  Composita  argentea.  At  this  place 
a  bed  of  coal  2l/2  feet  thick  underlies  the  limestone,  being  separated  from  it 
by  6  inches  of  shale.  This  is  probably  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  bed  with  the 
typical  limestone  cap  rock  that  is  usually  present  in  other  parts  of  the  quad- 
rangles and  farther  east,  in  Fulton  County.1 

In  a  tributary  that  joins  this  creek  from  the  east  about  50  rods  east 
of  the  exposure  last  mentioned,  and  in  the  banks  of  a  stream  still  farther 
east,  this  limestone  is  A)/2  feet  thick,  and  furnished  Girtyina  ventricosa,  Pro- 
ductus cora,  Productus  semireticidatus,  Spirifer  cameratus,  Spirifer  camer- 
atus var.  and  Composita  argentea.  At  the  former  place  the  underlying  coal  is 
only  about  6  inches  thick,  and  is  separated  from  the  limestone  by  3  feet  of 

!Mr.  Harold  E.  Culver  of  the  State  Geological  Survey  has  recently  shown  the  presence 
of  the  Girtyina  limestone  in  this  region. 


150  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

shale.  The  upper  layer  of  limestone  at  this  place  contains  many  calcite-filled 
tubes  which  average  nearly  one- fourth  inch  in  diameter.  These  are  among 
the  few  exposures  in  which  the  Herrin  Coal  and  the  overlying  limestone  con- 
taining Girtyina  ventricosa  can  be  certainly  recognized,  and  its  stratigraphic 
relations  determined  in  the  northern  part  of  the  quadrangles.  At  this  place 
it  lies  about  35  feet  above  the  horizon  of  large  concretions  with  cone-in-cone 
and  pisolite  structures,  and  about  75  to  85  feet  above  the  base  of  the  Potts- 
ville  formation,  at  an  altitude  of  about  660  feet  above  sea  level. 

Strata  equivalent  to  members  1  to  14,  inclusive,  of  the  foregoing  sec- 
tion outcrop  along  a  creek  a  short  distance  west  of  the  middle  of  the  south 
half  of  sec.  30,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.,  and  along  the  creeks  that  join  the  river 
near  the  middle  of  the  S.  i/2  sec.  25,  T.  17  N.,  R.  4  W.  Members  1  to  11, 
inclusive,  can  be  recognized  along  a  creek  that  follows  near  the  west  side 
of  the  S.  !/2  sec.  30,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.,  but  the  limestone  is  only  about  one 
foot  thick,  and  the  Herrin  coal  is  not  present  in  these  outcrops.  Mem- 
bers 4  and  5  of  this  section  can  be  seen  in  outcrops  along  the  lower  course 
of  the  creek  that  joins  the  river  in  the  NW.  Vi  sec.  32,  T.  17  N.,  R.  4  W., 
and  strata  belonging  to  higher  levels  are  exposed  farther  up  this  stream. 
In  the  SW.  %  sec.  4,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  a  coal  bed  20  to  26  inches  thick 
has  been  worked  by  drift  in  a  number  of  places  at  an  altitude  of  710  to 
714  feet  above  sea  level.  The  dip  of  the  coal  at  these  localities  is  variable, 
the  strongest  slope  being  toward  the  south,  at  the  rate  of  about  one  foot 
in  10  feet.  A  slight  western  inclination  was  also  present.  The  coal  is  over- 
lain by  a  thin-bedded  sandstone  or  sandy  shale  3  or  4  feet  thick.  The  dark 
shale  bed  containing  concretionary  limestone  masses  covered  with  cone-in- 
cone  structure  and  pisolite  is  also  exposed  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above 
the  mouth  of  the  creek  that  joins  the  river  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  33,  T.  17 
N.,  R.  4  W.  About  40  rods  farther  up  this  creek  a  coal  bed,  22  inches 
thick,  overlying  a  thin-bedded,  micaceous  sandstone  has  been  worked  in  a 
small  way  at  an  altitude  of  about  582  feet.  The  strata  in  this  part  of  the 
quadrangle  are  more  or  less  undulating,  dipping  in  different  directions  in 
different  places,  but  the  conspicuous  prevailing  dip  in  this  part  of  the  area 
is  southward,  with  a  smaller  inclination  toward  the  west.  The  zone  of 
large  concretions  with  cone-in-cone  structure  and  pisolite  is  conspicuous  in 
all  of  the  streams  where  its  horizon  is  exposed.  It  occurs  at  a  level  about 
35  to  50  feet  above  the  base  of  the  Pottsville.  The  altitude  of  this  "cone- 
in-cone"  and  pisolitic  zone  along  Coal  Creek  is  about  623  feet  above  sea 
level,  but  about  5y2  miles  farther  west,  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  33,  T.  17  N., 
R.  4  W.,  the  elevation  of  this  "cone-in-cone"  concretionary  horizon  has  de- 
clined to  about  576  feet  above  the  sea.  Still  farther  west  sandstone  be- 
comes more  prominent  in  the  Pennsylvanian  section.  Along  a  creek  that 
crosses  the  middle  part  of  sec.  1,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  the  following  succes- 
sion of  strata  is  exposed : 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  151 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  along  a  stream  in  sec.  1,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

7.    Shale,  gray  to  blue 28 

6.    Shale,  white  (pottery  clay) 5-7 

5.    Shale,  dark  and  gray  36 

4.    Shale,  with  ironstone  and  nodular  bands  1  to  3  inches  thick,  with  "cone- 
in-cone"    2  V2 

3.    Shale,  dark   22 

2.    Shale,  dark  and  gray , 10 

1.    Sandstone     22 

The  white  shale  member  number  6  in  the  foregoing  section  outcrops 
near  the  middle  of  the  south  half  of  the  section.  It  was  worked  by  Mr. 
Tyler  prior  to  1890  for  white  pottery  clay  which  was  used  at  that  time  in 
the  manufacture  of  jugs,  crocks,  and  jars  at  four  pottery  plants  in  and  near 
Illinois  City.  Considerable  clay  was  also  hauled  to  Fairport,  Iowa,  where  it 
was  manufactured  into  similar  wares.  A  similar  clay  that  burns  white  occurs 
on  land  of  A.  J.  Lyon,  half  a  mile  north  of  Illinois  City,  and  probably 
represents  the  same  bed  as  that  formerly  worked  by  Mr.  Tyler.  At  this 
place  the  white  shale  bed  lies  about  35  feet  above  the  zone  of  small  dark 
concretions,  the  base  of  it  being  about  695  feet  above  sea  level.  It  belongs 
to  a  level  several  feet  above  the  level  of  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal  bed 
which  is  usually  absent  along  these  streams  south  of  the  Mississippi,  but 
possibly  outcrops  in  the  river's  north  bank,  Zl/2  miles  northeast  of  this  place 
at  an  altitude  of  about  658  feet,  about  60  feet  above  the  top  of  the  Devon- 
ian limestone  exposed  in  the  bank  of  Pine  Creek  one  mile  farther  northeast. 

The  sandstone  bed  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Pottsville  formation  con- 
tinues to  thicken  farther  westward,  as  shown  by  the  exposures  along  a 
stream  in  the  NE.  %  sec.  2,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  where  the  following  sec- 
tion was  made: 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NE.  y$  sec.  2,  T.  16  N .,  R.  5  IV. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Coal  (alt.  about  674) V/2-\- 

Shale,  black,  with  large  concretions,  laminated  in  lower  part 22 

Shale,  gray  to  dark    6 

Shale,  light  and  dark,  partly  concealed  20 

Sandstone,  gray  to  yellow,  micaceous,  in  thick  and  thin  layers,  some  of 
which  are  cross-bedded 35 

The  strata  at  this  place  dip  south  and  a  little  west  at  the  rate  of  about 
one  foot  in  a  distance  of  10  feet.  The  coal  has  been  worked  by  drifts  in 
two  or  three  places  in  this  vicinity  for  local  use. 

About  one  mile  west  of  the  place  where  the  last  section  was  made  the 
following  succession  of  strata  outcrop  in  the  banks  of  a  stream  in  the  east 
half  of  sec.  3,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W. : 


152  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  E.  y2  sec.  3,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

Coal    (altitude  about  656) 2 

Shale,  gray  and  dark  18 

Coal,  locally  present 1 

Limestone,  concretionary,  with  iron % 

Cone-in-cone  band    ]/3 

Shale,  dark,  with  large  concretions  covered  with  cone-in-cone  structure..    11 
Shale,  dark  alternating  with  clay-ironstone  bands  in  layers  1  to  4  inches 

thick  2 

Shale,  gray,  sandy   6 

Sandstone  (partly  concealed),  with  an  iron-cemented  conglomerate  1  foot 

or  more  thick  at  the  base   45 

Shale,  gray  and  dark   25 

Coal    (altitude  about  563   feet) \2/3 

Sandstone,  in  thin  layers 7 

Shale,  black   3 

In  the  foregoing  section  the  coal  at  the  top  is  equivalent  to  the  upper 
member  of  the  preceding  section,  the  westward  dip  being  about  11  feet  to 
the  mile.  This  coal  outcrops  near  the  middle  of  section  2  at  an  altitude 
of  about  665  feet.  The  sandstone  bed,  number  5  of  the  last  section,  clearly 
corresponds  with  the  lowest  member  in  the  preceding  section. 

The  succession  of  strata  exposed  along  a  stream  in  the  W.  ^  °f  sec_ 
tion  3  of  this  township  is  as  follows : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  IV.  Y2  sec.  3,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone 15 

Shale,  gray,  sandy    21 

coal 1  y2+ 

Sandstone    4]/2 

Shale,  dark   10 

Shale,  light   6 

Shale,  dark   9l/2 

Sandstone    7 

Shale,  sandy   10 

Sandstone,  partly  concealed   30+ 

For  a  distance  of  one  and  one-half  miles  west  from  the  place  where 
the  last  section  was  made,  as  far  as  Jimtown  School,  a  massive  sandstone 
outcrops  in  the  south  bank  of  the  river  to  a  height  of  more  than  100  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  flood  plain.  The  foot  of  the  bluff  is  concealed  by 
talus,  so  that  the  full  thickness  of  the  sandstone  could  not  be  seen,  but  it 
can  not  be  less  than  60  feet  and  probably  in  places  reaches  80  feet.  This 
is  doubtless  the  continuation  of  the  sandstone  exposed  in  picturesque  ledges 
along  Pine  Creek  in  sees.  17  and  18,  T.  77  N.,  R.  1  E.  This  sandstone  rests 
with   marked   unconformity   upon   different   levels   of   older   Pennsylvanian 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  153 

strata  in  this  region;  and  possibly  it  is  to  be  correlated  with  the  massive 
sandstone  that  unconformably  overlies  different  levels  of  McLeansboro  strata 
in  Clark  and  Coles  counties. 

In  the  banks  of  the  creek  that  joins  the  river  just  east  of  Jimtown 
School,  the  following  succession  of  strata  is  exposed. 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  in  sees.  4  and  5,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone    50  to  70 

Shale,  dark   30 

Shale,  dark  and  light 11 

Sandstone    12 

Coal   (altitude  558  feet) W2 

Underclay,  gray    2 

The  coal  has  been  drifted  on  in  several  places  below  the  school  house 
in  this  vicinity.  The  strata  rise  toward  the  west  at  the  rate  of  about  one 
foot  in  a  distance  of  60  feet.  The  thick  sandstone  at  the  top  of  the  sec- 
tion probably  fills  an  old  channel,  and  rests  in  erosional  unconformity  on 
the  underlying  strata.  The  altitude  of  the  base  of  the  thick  sandstone  near 
the  Jimtown  School  is  about  611  feet  above  sea  level,  while  that  of  the 
base  of  this  sandstone  two  miles  farther  east  is  about  571  feet  above  the 
sea.  Across  the  river  from  Jimtown  School,  near  the  mouth  of  Sweet- 
land  Creek,  Devonian  limestone  is  exposed  to  a  height  of  about  572  feet 
above  the  sea. 

Along  a  creek  that  crosses  the  south  half  of  sec.  5,  of  this  township, 
a  one-foot  conglomerate  lies  above  17  feet  of  shale,  at  the  base  of  the 
thick  sandstone  bed  at  an  elevation  of  about  619  feet.  At  this  place  the 
sandstone  is  underlain  by  17  feet  or  more  of  dark  shale. 

Along  the  Muscatine-Rock  Island  wagon  road  up  the  hill  in  the  east 
bank  of  the  river,  near  the  middle  of  the  south  side  of  sec.  6,  T.  16  N., 
R.  5  W.,  there  is  exposed  the  following  succession  of  shale  which  dips  gently 
toward  the  east. 

Strata  exposed  along  wagon  road  near  middle  of  south  side  of 

see.  6,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  IV.  Thickness 

Feet 
Sandstone,  in  thick  and  thin  beds,  in  places  massive  and  strongly  cross- 
bedded,   the    false   bedding    planes    dipping   toward    the    west.      This    is 
probably  the  thick  sandstone  exposed  near  the  top  of  the  bluff  west  of 

Jimtown  School   38 

Shale,  dark    12 

Clay-ironstone   band    */? 

Shale,  dark    9 

Clay  ironstone  bands  alternating  with  bands  of  shale,  1  to  3  inches  thick..     2^ 

Shale,  dark   16 

Shale,  gray,  sandy   12 

Sandstone    6 


154  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

About  40  rods  east  of  this  road  a  quarry  was  formerly  worked  in  a 
sandstone  bed  that  corresponds  with  the  basal  member  of  the  foregoing 
section  (fig.  23).  The  sandstone  is  22  feet  thick  in  this  old  quarry.  It 
is  underlain  by  2%  ^eet  of  black  shale,  and  is  followed  above  by  a  thick- 
ness of  11  feet  of  gray,  sandy  shale.  The  wagon  road  up  the  hill  half 
a  mile  east  of  the  road,  where  the  last  section  was  made,  passes  over  a 
thickness  of  55  feet  of  light  and  dark  shale  which  corresponds  to  that 
portion  of  the  foregoing  section  between  the  upper  and  basal  sandstones. 
The  following  succession  of  strata,  exposed  along  Copperas  Creek,  cor- 
responds in  a  general  way  with  those  outcropping  along  the  streams  south 
of  Mississippi  River,  described  above.  The  youngest  rocks  appear  near  the 
headwaters  of  this  creek  where  the  section  given  below  is  exposed  near  the 
middle  of  the  east  side  of  sec.  36,  T„  16  N.,  R.  4  W. : 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  in  sec.  36,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shale,   gray    7 

Shale,  red  and  pink   9 

Shale,  gray   6 

Sandstone,  thin  bedded    12 

The  elevation  of  the  top  of  the  exposure  at  this  place  is  about  740 
feet.  About  half  a  mile  farther  up  this  creek  a  sandstone  5  feet  thick, 
dipping  toward  the  south,  is  exposed  above  the  level  of  the  uppermost  shale 
in  the  above  section.  Strata  belonging  below  the  basal  member  of  the 
foregoing  section  outcrop  in  the  east  bank  of  a  tributary  of  Copperas  Creek, 
along  the  wagon  road  near  the  middle  of  the  W.  %  sec.  27 \  Buffalo  Prairie 
Township,  as  shown  in  the  section  given  below : 

Section  of  strata  near  the  middle  of  IV.  }/2  sec.  27,  T.16N.,  R.4  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shale,   gray    4^ 

Coal   (altitude  about  710  feet)    1M> 

Shale,   sandy,   gray    13 

Sandstone   9 

Rock  Island  (  ?)  coal  and  associated  strata. — From  one-half  mile  to  one 
mile  farther  down  the  creek  in  the  SE.  14  sec-  21,  and  the  SW.  %  sec-  22, 
T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  the  following  succession  of  strata  outcrop  at  an  altitude 
lower  than  the  base  of  the  last  section: 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  SE.%  sec.  21,  T.16N.,  RAW. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shale,  dark    11 

Shale,  dark  and  light,  with  concretionary  clay-ironstone  bands 16 

Limestone,   dark,    fossiliferous    IK -\~ 

Coal  (No.  1)    (?)    (altitude  about  654  feet) llA 


EDGIXGTOX-MILAX    AREA:      PEXXSYLVAXIAX    SYSTEM 


155 


The  coal  has  been  worked  by  drifts  in  a  number  of  places  near  the 
junction  of  this  stream  with  Copperas  Creek.  Rocks  corresponding  to 
some  part  of  the  shale  portion  of  the  last  section  are  exposed  in  the  banks 
of  Copperas  Creek  in  places  for  a  distance  of  two  miles  above  the  mouth 
of  this  stream.  About  three  miles  farther  west,  along  a  tributary  of  Cop- 
peras Creek,  in  the  W.  %  sec.  19  and  the  N.  y2  sec.  24,  of  the  same  town- 
ship, and  farther  west  in  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  the  Rock  Island 
(No.  1)  (?)  coal  and  its  limestone  cap  rock  are  absent,  and  their  place 
appears  to  be  occupied  by  a  sandstone  bed  28  feet  thick,  which  is  thought 
to  correspond  to  the  sandstone  that  outcrops  in  the  upper  part  of  the  river 
bluff  west  of  Jimtown  School. 


Fig.    2  4. — Sandstone   overlying  a   thin   coal    bed   in    the   lower   part   of   the    Pottsville 
formation,  in  the  SW.  %  see.  23,  Drury  Township. 


In  the  SW.  %  sec.  23,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  there  is  exposed  the  follow- 
ing succession  of  strata  (see  fig.  24)  belonging  to  a  level  below  the  sand- 
stone above  described : 

Section  of  strata  outcropping  in  sec.  23,  T.16N.,  R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone,  yellowish  gray  6 

Coal    y2  to  1 

Shale,  gray  and  dark 18 


The  lowest  strata  appearing  along  Copperas  Creek  are  exposed  along 
a  stream  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  29  of  Drury  Township. 


156  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Section  of  strata  in  the  NW \l/A  sec.  29,  T.16N.,  R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shale,  gray 7 

Shale,  sandy,  or  shaly  sandstone 11 

Coal    (altitude  592   feet) 1 

Underclay,    gray Y2  to  1 

Sandstone,  thin  bedded    19 

In  places  these  strata  lie  nearly  horizontal,  and  in  others  they  dip  south- 
ward at  a  low  angle. 

A  limestone  that  may  represent  the  limestone  above  the  Rock  Island 
( No.  1 )  (?)  coal  bed  is  reported  in  the  log  of  a  boring  in  the  NE.  %  NW.  *4 
sec.  34,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  at  an  altitude  about  642  feet  above  seal  level. 
This  coal  and  the  dark  limestone  cap  rock  are  exposed  in  the  SE.  ^  sec-  21, 
about  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  test  boring  last  mentioned,  but 
they  are  not  known  farther  west  in  the  Edgington  quadrangle  on  the  Illinois 
side  of  the  river.  The  coal  outcrops  on  the  Iowa  side  of  the  river  in  the 
north  part  of  the  Milan  quadrangle,  where  it  has  been  mined  in  a  small 
way  a  short  distance  north  of  the  center  of  sec.  11,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  E.,  at 
an  elevation  of  about  650  feet,  and  near  the  northwest  corner  of  sec.  15  of 
the  same  township,  where  the  elevation  is  about  660  feet.  It  also  outcrops 
near  the  middle  of  the  SE.  *4  sec.  20,  T.  77  N.,  R,  1  E.,  at  an  elevation 
of  about  658  feet.  Most  of  the  logs  of  coal-test  borings  in  sees.  16,  21,  22, 
27,  2&,  29,  and  34,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  report  neither  the  coal  nor  the  dark 
limestone  cap  rock  that  usually  overlies  it.  These  strata  are  not  exposed  at 
any  other  places  along  the  streams  in  the  northern,  middle,  and  western 
parts  of  these  quadrangles. 

CARBONDALE  AND   MCLEANSBORO  FORMATIONS 

Along  Camp  Creek  and  its  branches,  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the 
Edgington  quadrangle,  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  bed,  with  its  dark  lime- 
stone cap  rock  containing  Girtyina  ventricosa,  outcrops  in  several  places  at 
altitudes  ranging  from  645  to  675  feet.  Along  the  roadside  in  the  north 
bank  of  Camp  Creek,  near  the  middle  of  the  S.  ^  sec.  24,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  W., 
the  following  succession  of  rocks  is  exposed : 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  near  the  middle  of  the  S.  Vz  sec.  24,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone,  thin  bedded    5 

Limestone,   dark,   shaly,  containing   Girtyina  ventricosa 12 

Coal   (Herrin  or  No.  6,  altitude  672  feet) 2]/2 

Underclay,  gray   4 

The  sandstone  member  number  4  of  the  above  section  is  said  to  be  35 
feet  thick  in  an  old  coal  shaft  near  this  place. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  157 

A  few  rods  south  of  the  exposure  above  described,  the  Herrin  coal  out- 
crops at  about  the  same  elevation,  and  is  overlain  by  sandstone,  the  limestone 
cap  rock  being  absent.  Here,  as  elsewhere,  such  alternations  of  sandstone 
and  limestone  immediately  above  the  coal  bed  within  so  short  a  distance  are 
thought  to  indicate  erosional  unconformity,  the  limestone  normally  lying 
above  this  coal  having  been  removed  by  erosion  previous  to  the  deposition 
of  the  sandstone  that  in  places  rests  directly  upon  this  coal  bed.  Probably 
in  places  the  coal  also  was  entirely  removed.  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  was 
formerly  worked  by  several  drifts  near  the  south  side  of  the  NW.  %  sec. 
19,  T.  15  N.,  R.  3  W.,  at  an  altitude  about  675  feet  above  sea  level.  No 
good  exposures  were  seen  in  the  last  locality,  but  fragments  of  dark  lime- 
stone on  the  old  coal  dumps  indicate  that  the  dark  limestone  cap  rock  that 
normally  overlies  this  coal  in  the  vicinity  of  Matherville  and  in  Fulton 
County,  is  also  here  present  above  the  coal.  This  same  coal  bed  is  exposed 
in  two  or  three  places  in  the  NE.  ^  SE.  >4  sec.  24,  T.  15  N.,  R.  3  W.,  where 
the  following  section  was  made,  but  the  dark  limestone  that  usually  overlies 
it  is  absent. 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NE.  %  SE.  14i  sec.  24, 
T.  15  N.,  R.  3  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shale   and   sandstone    17 

Sandstone,  thin  bedded  8 

Coal   ( No.  6,  altitude  673  feet) 2 

Shale,  gray  above  and  dark  below 9 

Strata  similar  to  those  in  the  outcrop  above  described  are  exposed  near 
the  middle  of  the  north  side  of  sec.  25  of  Duncan  Township,  where  the 
altitude  of  the  coal  is  about  662  feet.  The  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  also  has 
been  drifted  on  in  several  places  in  the  SE.  %  sec.  23  of  Duncan  Town- 
ship, at  an  elevation  of  about  657  feet  above  sea  level.  A  section  of  the 
rocks  in  this  locality  is  given  below : 

Section   of  strata   exposed   in   the   SE.  %  sec.  23,   T.15N.,  RAW. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone,  or  sandy  shale 16 

Coal    (No.  6,  altitude  about  657   feet) 2 

Shale,  light  and  dark   20 

In  the  south  bank  of  Little  Camp  Creek,  in  the  SW.  *4  sec.  34,  Duncan 
Township,  the  Herrin  coal  and  associated  strata  are  exposed,  as  shown  in 
the  section  given  below : 


158  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Section   of  rocks   exposed  in   the  SW .  %  sec.  34,   T.15N.,  RAW. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Coal  ( No.  6,  altitude  658  feet) 2 

Shale,  gray  and  dark    23 

Coal  , y2 

Shale   2 

The  Herrin  coal  and  the  dark  limestone  cap  rock  outcrop  near  the 
middle  of  the  north  side  of  the  SE.  l/\  sec.  27  of  the  same  township,  as 
shown  below : 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  in  north  side  of  the  SE.  J4  sec.  27 ,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  IV. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone   3 

Limestone,  dark  with  several  fossils   2 

Coal   ( Herrin  or  No.  6) 3 

Shale,  light  and  dark 12 

The  limestone  above  the  Herrin  coal  at  this  place  furnished  the  fossils 
Girtyina  ventricosa,  Orbiculoidca  missonriensis,  Productus  cora,  Productus 
scmireticulatus,  Marginifera  muricata,  Spirifcr  camcratus,  and  Composita 
argentca,  which  species  also  occur  in  the  limestone  above  this  coal  farther 
southeast  in  Fulton  County. 

Farther  west,  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  no 
rocks  of  Pennsylvanian  age  outcrop  along  Eliza  Creek  or  its  tributaries  or 
on  Winters  Creek,  or  along  the  tributaries  of  Mississippi  River  south  of 
Copperas  Creek,  except  a  few  small  exposures  in  sec.  6,  Eliza  Township, 
where  the  following  succession  of  strata  was  seen  in  the  bank  of  the  river 
nearly  a  mile  west  of  the  quadrangle : 

Strata  exposed  in  the  bank  of  the  river  near  the  ivest  side  of 

sec.  6,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W.  Thickness 

Feet 

Coal  (altitude  about  573  feet) \l/2 

Shale    3 

Sandstone    14  to  17 

h\  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  Milan  quadrangle  the  Herrin  (No.  6) 
coal  is  exposed  in  several  places  in  the  vicinity  of  Matherville,  at  elevations 
ranging  from  624  to  650  feet  above  sea  level.  The  coal  bed  varies  con- 
siderably in  thickness  from  place  to  place;  even  in  the  same  mine  it  is  said 
to  be  4  feet  thick  or  more  in  some  places,  and  to  pinch  out  entirely  in 
others.  The  thickness  is  said  to  be  more  persistent  in  a  north-south  than  in 
an  east-west  direction.  The  dark  limestone  is  usually  present  above  the 
coal  in  this  region. 

Along  a  stream  near  the  center  of  sec.  33,  Preemption  Township,  the 
Herrin  coal  has  been  mined  in  a  drift  at  an  altitude  of  652  feet.  The 
bed  at  this  place  is  3  feet  10  inches  thick,  and  is  overlain  by  a  thickness  of 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  159 

12  feet  of  dark  limestone  called  "blue  rock"  by  the  miner.     A  section  of 
the  strata  exposed  at  this  locality  is  as  follows : 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  near  the  middle  of  sec.  33,  T.  15  W.,  R.  2  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

Sandstone,  white,  shaly   3 

Shale,  dark  and  gray 11 

Limestone,  dark,   shaly,   f ossiliferous 9 

Coal    (Xo.  6,  altitude  about  652  feet) iy2 

Shale,  gray 7 

Sandstone    1 

Shale,  gray    \lA 

The  fossils  in  the  limestone  above  the  coal  at  this  place  include  Gir- 
tyina  ventricosa,  Productus  cora,  Spirifer  cameratus,  Composita  argentea. 

In  the  shaft  of  mine  No.  3  of  the  Coal  Valley  Mining  Company,  in  the 
SE.  J/\.  sec.  27,  Preemption  Township,  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  lies  about 
69  feet  below  the  surface  at  an  altitude  of  about  624  feet  above  the 
sea.  The  coal  in  this  mine  is  pockety,  ranging  in  thickness  from  less  than 
3  to  nearly  5  feet  and  dipping  in  different  directions  in  different  parts  of 
the  mine. 

About  30  rods  north  of  the  place  where  the  last  section  was  made,  a 
thickness  of  12  feet  of  sandstone  is  exposed  at  the  level  of  the  limestone 
member  in  the  detailed  section  last  described.  Along  the  wagon  road  up 
the  hill  on  the  east  side  of  this  creek,  along  the  north  side  of  the  NE.  % 
sec.  33,  Preemption  Township,  the  following  succession  of  strata  is  exposed : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  along  the  north  side,  sec.  33,  T.  15  N.,  R.  2  W . 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shale    3 

Limestone,  concretionary,  with  cone-in-cone  structure 1  to  2 

Shale,  gray    7 

Sandstone    16 

The  altitude  of  the  concretionary  limestone  is  about  693  feet,  or  about 
41  feet  higher  than  the  level  of  No.  6  coal  less  than  a  mile  farther  south. 

In  a  drift  mine  operated  by  Dougherty  Brothers  in  the  SW.  *4  sec.  26, 
Preemption  Township,  the  Herrin  coal  is  worked  at  an  altitude  of  about 
646  feet.  The  bed  is  3  to  4  feet  thick,  and  is  overlain  by  2  feet  of  black, 
fissile  shale,  followed  above  by  14  feet  of  dark  limestone  underlying  13 
feet  of  sandstone. 


160  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

A  coal-test  boring  in  the  town  of  Cable  penetrated  the  following  suc- 
cession of  Pennsylvanian  rocks,  as  shown  in  the  log  furnished  by  Mr.  B.  B. 
Peterson : 

Log  of  test  boring  in  the  town  of  Cable 

Description  of  strata                    Thickness  Depth 

Quaternary  system—                                                                                        Feet  Feet 
Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil   and   clay 9  9 

Pennsylvanian  system — 
Pottsville  formation — 

Sandstone  and  shale 3  12 

Limestone,  blue,  shaly 9  21 

Coal  (No.  1  (  ?)  altitude  654  feet) 3j4  2¥/2 

Underclay   and    shale 57  81  ^4 

Sandstone 30  111^4 

Coal  (altitude  585  feet) 2^  114 

Underclay  and   shale 12  126 

Devonian  system — 

Limestone     52  178 

The  altitude  of  the  upper  coal,  possibly  No.  1,  at  this  place  is  about 
654  feet,  and  the  elevation  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  limestone  is  about 
549  feet. 

This  coal  is  also  exposed  along  a  stream  south  of  the  wagon  road  in 
the  N.  l/2  sec.  20,  Richland  Grove  Township,  where  the  following  section 
was  made : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  along  a  stream  in  sec.  20,  T.  15  N.,  R.  1  IV. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Limestone,  dark  2-\- 

Coal  (No.  1(?),  altitude  about  667  feet) 2 

Underclay    4 

In  an  abandoned  drift  mine  in  the  NE.  %  sec.  20,  T.  15  N.,  R.  1  W., 
this  same  coal  bed  lies  at  an  altitude  of  662  feet,  and  ranges  in  thick- 
ness from  2  to  3  feet.  In  a  local  mine  working  this  coal  about  one-half 
mile  east  of  Cable,  the  bed  is  said  to  average  3%  feet  thick  and  lies  at  an 
elevation  of  about  646  feet.  The  operator  reported  that  the  coal  was 
thickest  in  the  lowest  part  of  the  depressions,  and  that  dark  shale  comes  in 
above  the  coal  and  has  the  greatest  thickness  over  the  lowest  part  of  the 
depressions. 

In  mine  No.  2  of  the  Coal  Valley  Mining  Company  at  Sherrard,  it 
is  reported  that  the  coal  ranges  in  thickness  from  3  to  5  feet  in 
places  where  it  has  been  mined,  but  it  becomes  so  thin  toward  the  east, 
north,  and  west  that  it  does  not  pay  to  work  it  farther  in  those  directions. 
The  thickness  persists  toward  the  south,  in  which  direction  they  have 
mined  into  the  old  works  at  Cable.  The  coal  is  said  to  be  undulating,  the 
ridges  and  troughs  corresponding  in  a  general  way  with  the  hills  and 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  161 

valleys  in  the  surface.  A  difference  in  elevation  between  the  crest  of  the 
ridges  and  the  bottom  of  the  troughs  is  in  some  places  as  much  as  12 
feet.  The  coal  is  reported  to  be  usually  thicker  in  the  troughs  than  in 
the  ridges.  The  altitude  of  the  coal  in  the  shaft  of  this  mine  is  about  612 
feet  above  sea  level. 

Over  the  middle  part  of  the  Milan  quadrangle  the  glacial  drift  is 
more  than  100  feet  thick,  and  no  exposures  of  Pennsylvanian  rock  are 
to  be  seen. 

In  a  test  hole  put  down  a  few  rods  south  of  the  middle  of  the  north 
side  of  sec.  32,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  blue  limestone  was  reported  40  feet  be- 
low the  surface,  at  an  altitude  of  650  feet.  This  limestone  was  probably 
the  cap  rock  or  dark  limestone  that  usually  overlies  the  Herrin  (No.  6) 
coal  bed.  Farther  west  in  the  Milan  quadrangle,  if  the  Herrin  coal  bed 
is  present  on  the  south  side  of  Mississippi  River,  it  is  thin,  and  the  dark 
limestone  that  usually  occurs  above  it  in  the  southeast  part  of  the 
quadrangles,  and  possibly  north  of  Mississippi  River  in  this  area,  is  absent, 
so  that  the  Herrin  coal  bed  can  not  be  distinguished. 

A  coal  2%  feet  thick  has  been  stripped  in  the  bed  of  a  creek  near 
the  southeast  corner  of  sec.  33,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.  This  coal  lies  at  an  alti- 
tude of  about  650  feet,  and  is  overlain  by  a  dark  shale  bed  containing 
some  calcareous  nodular  material,  and  may  possibly  represent  the  Rock 
Island  bed. 

UNCONFORMITIES    WITHIN    THE    PENNSYLVANIAN 

An  intra-Pennsylvanian  unconformity  is  believed  to  be  indicated  in 
the  exposures  in  the  SW.  34  sec.  24,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  W.,  where  sandstone 
immediately  overlies  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal,  and  only  a  few  feet  distant 
at  the  same  level  the  normal  dark  limestone  immediately  overlies  this  bed. 
A  large  unconformity  is  also  thought  to  be  indicated  in  Montpelier  and 
Drury  townships,  where  a  thick-bedded,  coarse-grained  sandstone  replaces 
shale  and  other  strata  within  short  distances  in  a  horizontal  direction.  The 
Herrin  coal  and  the  overlying  limestone  containing  Girtyina  ventricosa  over- 
lap the  underlying  strata  in  marked  unconformity. 

An  old  channel  in  the  coal  bed  in  the  Sherrard  mine  (fig.  25)  is  thought 
to  furnish  additional  evidence  of  an  unconformity  within  the  Pennsylvanian. 
Operations  in  this  mine,  which  have  extended  under  nearly  two 
sections  of  land,  have  disclosed  a  channel  about  300  feet  wide  in  the  coal 
bed  where  the  coal  is  either  wholly  absent,  or  so  thin  and  affected  to 
such  an  extent  with  faults  and  slips  that  it  could  not  be  profitably  worked. 
The  channel  follows  a  sigmoid  course  from  northeast  to  southwest,  as 
shown  in  the  sketch  of  the  mine  map,  figure  25.  It  has  been  traced 
from  near  the  center  of  the  south  side  of  sec.  5,  T.  15  N.,  R.  1  W.,  to 
near  the  center  of  the  NE.  14  sec.  4,  of  the  same  township,  a  distance  of 


162 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  191i 


.-/ 


i 


. 

Fig.  25.— Mine  map  of  mine  No.  2  of  Cdai' Valley  Mining-  Company  at 
Sherrard,  showing  location  of  old  channel  in  the  coal. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  163 

about  one  mile.  Two  smaller  unproductive  belts,  which  appear  to  be 
tributaries,  join  the  main  channel  from  the  northwest. 

One  possible  explanation  of  these  channels  is  that  they  represent 
ancient  drainage  courses  in  the  original  peat  swamp  in  which  the  coal 
was  formed.  However,  if  these  represent  such  channels,  like  that  of  Dis- 
mal River  in  the  Great  Dismal  Swamp,  the  dark  limestone  cap  rock, 
which  is  marine,  would  be  expected  to  extend  across  the  channel,  bend- 
ing down  into  it  from  both  sides,  if  a  depression  existed  there  when  the 
limestone  was  laid  down ;  or  owing  to  later  compression  of  the  peat,  it 
might  bend  upward  at  the  margins,  and  lie  at  a  higher  level  above  the 
channel  if  the  latter  was  filled  with  mud  or  sandy  sediment  before  the 
limestone  was  deposited. 

Instead  of  either  of  these  conditions  prevailing,  the  limestone  is 
usually  absent  over  the  channels,  thinning  out  irregularly  and  somewhat 
abruptly  as  they  are  approached.  In  one  place  also  the  limestone  has 
been  reduced  by  the  solvent  action  of  water,  and  there  are  small,  col- 
lapsed caverns  along  the  thinned  edge  of  the  limestone  near  the  border 
of  the  channel.  These  features  are  best  explained  on  the  assumption  ot 
unconformity  within  the  Pennsylvanian,  the  channels  having  been  formed  by 
erosion  inaugurated  some  time  after  the  deposition  of  the  limestone,  but 
previous  to  the  time  of  deposition  of  some  of  the  higher  Pennsylvanian  beds. 

Quaternary  System 
character  and  thickness  of  the  deposits 

Over  a  large  part  of  the  Edgington  and  Milan  quadrangles  the  Quat- 
ernary or  surficial  deposits  have  an  average  thickness  of  nearly  100  feet; 
in  some  places  the  thickness  is  reported  to  be  more  than  200  feet.  They 
consist  of  pre-Illinoian  clay  or  sand,  Pleistocene  glacial  drift  or  till,  loess, 
and  terrace  deposits  and  Recent  alluvium  and  dune  sand  deposits.  All  of 
these  materials  have  been  derived  from  indurated  rocks  partly  through 
normal  processes  of  weathering,  partly  through  the  grinding  action  of  the 
glaciers,  and  in  small  part  by  the  abrasive  action  of  stream  erosion.  They 
have  been  transported  and  deposited  by  ice,  wind,  and  water,   ; 

The  greatest  known  thickness  of  the  Quaternary  deposits  in  the 
area  is  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  NE.  %.  sec.  9,  T.  16  N.,  R.  1  W., 
where  a  water  well  220  feet  deep  was  reported  to  have  stopped  on  the 
top  of  bed  rock.  ? 

In  a  water  well  put  down  near  the  middle  of  the  S.  %  sec.  9,  T.  15  N., 
R.  5  W.,  the  top  of  the  Pennsylvanian  was  said  to  have  been  reached  at 
a  depth  of  200  feet,  and  in  another  well  near  the  middle  of  the  west  side 
of  sec.  23  of  the  same  township,  the  Quaternary  deposits  were  reported 
to  be  equally  thick.  Over  most  of  the  area  of  the  quadrangles  south  of 
Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  the  thickness  of  the  surficial  deposits  ex- 


264  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

ceeds  125  feet.  In  19  wells  which  were  reported  to  have  reached  the 
top  of  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  the  average  thickness  of  the  Quaternary 
deposits  was  145  feet.  In  58  other  wells  which  did  not  reach  the  base 
of  the  Quaternary,  the  average  thickness  of  the  surficial  materials  pene- 
trated was  125  feet. 

PLEISTOCENE  SERIES 
DIFFERENTIATION    OF    DEPOSITS 

The  Pleistocene  series  is  represented  in  the  Edgington  and  Milan 
quadrangles  by  six  of  the  different  glacial  and  interglacial  stages  recog- 
nized in  North  America.  The  lowest  bed  of  glacial  drift  that  has  been 
differentiated  in  the  area  has  been  found  in  only  a  few  places,  and  is 
thought  to  belong  to  the  Kansan  stage.  It  is  overlain  by  a  dark  clay  or 
soil  zone  which  corresponds  to  the  Yarmouth  interglacial  stage.  The 
upper  glacial  till  that  underlies  almost  the  entire  area  is  the  Illinoian, 
and  it  is  covered  in  many  places  by  the  Sangamon  soil.  The  surface  of 
the  quadrangles  is  almost  everywhere  underlain  by  a  bed  of  loess,  a 
large  part  of  which  is  thought  to  be  of  late  Iowan  and  early  Peorian  age. 
In  a  few  places  in  the  valleys  of  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  are  terrace 
deposits  that  are  thought  to  be  of  Wisconsin  age. 

The  topography  of  the  glacial  drift  in  this  area  is  nowhere  of  the 
morainic  ridge  type.  The  surface  is  partially  dissected  ground  moraine 
or  drift  plain  that  has  been  covered  with  a  mantle  of  loess. 

KANSAN   TILL 

The  drift  was  derived  from  two  different  ice  invasions,  the  earlier, 
Kansan,  which  invaded  from  the  north  or  northwest,  and  the  Illinoian, 
which  advanced  from  the  northeast.  The  deposits  left  by  these  two  drift 
sheets  are  for  the  most  part  indistinguishable  in  character  and  appear- 
ance. Since  the  places  are  rare  where  the  old  Yarmouth  soil  bed  that 
was  formed  on  the  surface  of  the  Kansan  till  before  the  advent  of  the 
Illinoian  glacier  was  left  undisturbed  by  the  latter  ice  sheet,  and  expo- 
sures of  this  Yarmouth  soil  horizon  are  still  more  rare,  there  are  only  a 
few  places  in  the  area  where  these  two  till  sheets  are  exposed  in  super- 
position, or  penetrated  in  well  borings,  so  that  they  could  be  certainly 
differentiated. 

An  outcrop  of  the  Kansan  drift  separated  from  the  overlying  Illi- 
noian till  by  an  old  soil  band  representing  the  Yarmouth  interglacial 
stage  was  seen  in  the  banks  of  a  ravine  east  of  the  center  of  the  west  line 
of  sec.  8,  T.  15  N.,  R.  1  W.,  about  one  and  one-half  miles  southwest  of 


EDGINGTO..«  MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY   SYSTEM  165 

Sherrard.    A  section  of  the  Pleistocene  deposits  exposed  at  this  locality 

is  given  below : 

Thickness 
Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  8,  T.  15  N .,  R.  1  W .  Feet 

5.  Loess,   yellowish    18 

4.  Till,    pebbly,    yellow    : 12 

3.  Soil-like  layer,  dark,  with  a  few  pebbles 2 

2.  Till,    pebbly,   gray,   leached 3 

1.  Till,  pebbly,  unleached   30+ 

In  the  foregoing  section  members  1  and  2  represent  the  Kansan  till, 
member  3  the  Yarmouth  interglacial  soil  horizon,  and  member  4  the  Illi- 
noian  till.  A  comparison  of  the  pebbles  in  the  two  tills  seen  in  the  above- 
mentioned  exposure  shows  that  among  those  measuring  one-third  of  an 
inch  in  diameter,  greenstone  and  limestone  are  more  common  in  the 
lower  till  than  in  the  upper;  and  dolomite  pebbles  are  more  common  in 
the  upper  till  than  in  the  lower.  A  similar  difference  has  been  found  to 
distinguish  these  two  tills  in  eastern  Iowa.  The  lower  till  in  this  ex- 
posure is  doubtless  the  Kansan  which  has  a  wide  distribution  in  Iowa 
and  northern  Missouri. 

The  lower  till,  members  5  and  6,  in  the  log  of  the  well  near  Seventh 
Avenue  and  Thirty-fifth  Street,  given  in  a  preceding  page,  is  also  thought 
to  represent  the  Kansan. 

In  the  city  of  Davenport,  immediately  across  the  river  from  Rock 
Island,  a  weathered  zone  between  two  beds  of  till  was  formerly  exposed 
along  Eighth  Street,  between  Myrtle  and  Vine.  Leverett1  has  described 
the  section  of  Pleistocene  strata  at  this  place  as  follows : 

Section  of  Pleistocene  strata  formerly  exposed  in  Davenport     Thickness 

Feet 

Loess  30 

Till,  reddish  brown,  leached  and  stained iy2  to  3 

Till,  brown,  calcareous,  crumbling  readily 15 

Clay,  gummy,  ash  colored,  with  black  streaks,  apparently  of  humus  (Yar- 
mouth)      2  to  3 

Till,  brown,  jointing  in  cubical  blocks,  color  changing  to  grayish  blue  at 
12  to  15  feet  25 

The  surface  of  the  Kansan  drift,  the  lowest  till  noted  above,  appears 
to  have  been  subjected  to  erosion  before  the  overlying  till  was  deposited, 
as  indicated  by  the  fact  that  the  surface  of  this  lower  drift  declines  15 
feet  in  a  distance  of  20  rods  in  passing  toward  the  river  valley. 

A  succession  of  Pleistocene  deposits  similar  to  those  described  in 
Davenport  has  been  reported  in  the  banks  of  the  river  in  Muscatine,  a 
short  distance  west  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle.  A  section  of  strata  at 
this  place,  as  reported  by  Leverett2  is  as  follows : 


vv     ^Leverett,    Frank,    The    Illinois    Glacial    Lobe,    U.    S.    Geological    Survey    Monograph 
XXXVIII.  p.   45.   1899. 
2Ibid.,  p.  47. 


166  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Section  of  Pleistocene  strata  exposed  on  Green  Street,  Muscatine,  Iowa 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess,  partly  eroded   10 

Silt,  brownish  black  1  y2  to  2 

Soil,  pebbly,  black   (Sangamon) 3 

Till,  brown,  leached   (Illinoian)    6 

Till,  brown,  unleached,  with  many  boulders  in  lower  part  (Illinoian) 12 

Silt,  calcareous    (Yarmouth) 6  to  8 

Till,  calcareous,  brown  (probably  Kansan) 10 

A  similar  succession  of  Quaternary  deposits  is  exposed  along  the 
branch  of  Eliza  Creek,  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  14,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W.,  in  the 
Edgington  quadrangle,  where  the  following  section  was  made : 

Section  of  strata  outcropping  in  the  SW '.%  sec.  14,  T.15N.,  R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

5.     Loess,  yellowish  brown   2  to  3 

4.     Till,  pebbly  (Illinoian)    19 

3.     Sand,  more  or  less   stratified 3  to  4 

2.     Loess-like   silt    2*/2  to  3^ 

1      Till,  pebbly,  bluish  (probably  Kansan) 3 

The  lower  till  in  the  exposure  last  described  probably  represents  the 
Kansan.  A  somewhat  similar  succession  of  strata  exposed  in  the  S W.  T4 
sec.  26,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  may  indicate  deposits  of  two  different  glacial 
stages,  as  shown  below : 

Section  of  strata  outcropping  in  the  Sl¥.  %  sec.  26,  T.16N.,  R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess,  yellowish  brown   5 

Till,  pebbly   (Illinoian) 11 

Sand  and  gravel,  irregularly  bedded 2  to  3^ 

Till,   pebbly    (possibly  Kansan) 4 

It  is  somewhat  uncertain  whether  the  lower  till  in  the  last  section  repre- 
sents an  earlier  glacial  stage  than  the  upper  one,  or  whether  the  sand  and 
gravel  bed  that  separates  the  two  drifts  may  have  been  spread  over  the 
lower  till  as  an  outwash  deposit  during  a  temporary  withdrawal  for  a 
short  distance  of  the  margin  of  the  single  ice  sheet.  There  is  not  suffi- 
cient evidence  in  such  a  bed  of  water-laid  sand  and  gravel  to  prove 
whether  it  was  deposited  during  an  interglacial  stage  when  the  ice  sheet 
had  entirely  melted  from  the  region  or  during  a  temporary  withdrawal 
of  the  ice  front. 

Compared  with  the  younger  Illinoian  drift,  the  Kansan  till  is  more 
bluish  in  color,  where  unweathered,  and  has  a  greater  tendency  to  joint  into 
cubical  blocks  when  dry.  It  also  contains  a  larger  percentage  of  greenstone 
and  limestone  pebbles  and  fewer  dolomite  pebbles  than  are  found  in  the 
upper  or  Illinoian  drift  in  this  region. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY    SYSTEM  167 

A  count  of  the  pebbles  or  different  kinds  of  rock  over  one-third  of  an 
inch  in  diameter  was  made  from  the  lower  (Kansan)  and  upper  (Illinoian) 
till  at  the  exposure  1%  miles  northwest  of  Cable,  with  the  following  results: 

Number  of  pebbles 
Kansan  till    Illinoian  till 
Kind  of  rock 

Quartz   11  5 

Greenstone   10  5 

Quartzite  4  4 

Diabase   18  17 

Granite    11  20 

Limestone  (CaC03)    14  6 

Dolomite     0  4 

Chert    15  16 

Sandstone    (Pottsville)    3  5 

Shale  (Pennsylvanian)    1  2 

Chert,    oolitic    1  4 

Red  crystalline  rock   3  2 

The  Kansan  ice  sheet  probably  covered  all  of  this  region,  but  in  many 
places  the  material  it  left  was  probably  incorporated  in  the  later  drift  sheet. 

YARMOUTH   INTERGLACIAL   STAGE 

Exposures  showing  a  soil  and  weathered  zone  that  was  developed  on 
the  surface  of  the  Kansan  drift  during  the  long  Yarmouth  interglacial  stage 
have  been  described  in  connection  with  the  discussion  of  the  Kansan  till. 
Such  a  soil  and  weathered  zone  presents  the  most  convincing  evidence  of 
the  intervention  of  a  long  interglacial  stage  between  the  time  of  deposition 
of  the  two  drift  sheets  which  it  separates.  Many  other  records  of  wells  in 
the  quadrangles  report  a  dark-colored  clay,  or  soil,  or  carbonaceous  bed 
beneath  the  Illinoian  drift,  but  in  most  places  this  bed  immediately  overlies 
Pennsylvanian  strata,  and  hence  it  can  not  be  determined  whether  the  soil 
or  peaty  zone  was  developed  wholly  during  Yarmouth  time,  or  whether  it 
represents  a  much  longer  period  of  pre-Illinoian  soil  or  humus  development. 

PRE-ILLINOIAN    DEPOSITS 

A  thickness  of  5  feet  of  clay  or  silt  underlying  the  Illinoian  drift  was 
exposed  for  a  distance  of  nearly  100  yards  in  grading  the  wagon  road  a 
few  years  ago  a  short  distance  south  of  the  center  of  sec.  12,  T.  17  N., 
R.  2  W.  This  clay  was  homogeneous,  and  not  laminated,  resembling  loess 
in  texture  and  appearance.  It  contained  shells  of  several  species  of  air- 
breathing  gastropods  similar  to  those  that  occur  in  the  surface  loess  of  this 
region. 

A  similar  deposit  containing  the  same  and  other  species  of  fossils  was 
found  in  other  places  in  the  quadrangles ;  viz.,  on  Thirty-ninth  Street  in  Rock 
Island,    between    Seventh    and    Eighth    avenues;    on    Thirty-eighth    Street 


168  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

between  the  same  avenues ;  and  in  a  well  put  down  at  the  base  of  the  bluff 
bordering  Mississippi  River  100  feet  northeast  of  the  crossing  of  Seventh 
Avenue  and  Thirty-fifth  Street.  In  the  bluff  behind  the  well  there  is  exposed 
a  thickness  of  several  feet  of  glacial  till  overlain  by  40  feet  of  loess  above 
the  top  of  the  curb.    The  log  of  this  well  is  given  below : 

Log  of  well  at  the  base  of  the  bluff  near  Seventh  Avenue  and 
Thirty -fifth  Street 

Thickness     Depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Till,  yellow  (probably  Illinoian) 5  5 

Muck,  black,  with  wood  fragments  (Yarmouth  soil  zone) 1  6 

Till,  brown,  leached  for  2  or  3  feet 7  13 

Till,  blue  (Kansan) 4  17 

Silt,  loess-like,  ash  colored,  calcareous,  with  loess  fossils 8  25 

Muck,  black 4  29 

Clay,  greenish,  residual,  with  many  pebbles  of  local  rocks,  but  no 

igneous  fragments 5  34 

Pennsylvanian  system — 

Shale   

In  the  exposure  of  these  beds  on  Thirty-eighth  Street  the  upper  layer 
was  laminated,  as  if  waterlaid,  and  the  underlying  loess-like  clay  also  con- 
tained many  shells  of  pulmonate  gastropods. 

Another  such  bed  of  loess-like  silt  underlying  the  till,  and  resting 
directly  upon  Pennsylvanian  rocks,  is  exposed  along  a  ravine  near  the  west 
side  of  sec.  7,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  where  the  following  section  was  made: 

Section  of  strata  exposed  along  the  ivest  side  of  sec.  7 ,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess  45 

Soil,  black 2 

Till,   yellowish   brown    (Illinoian) 12 

Loess-like  silt  containing  loess  fossils several  feet 

Sandstone   (Pennsylvanian)    

A  good  outcrop  of  this  lower,  loess-like  clay  is  found  in  the  east  bluff 
of  Mississippi  River,  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  31,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  a  section  of 
which  is  given  below : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  east  bank  of  Mississippi  River, 
sec.  31,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess  25 

Soil,  black    2  to  3 

Till,  mostly  bluish    (Illinoian) 90 

Loess-like  clay,  with  many  fossils 12 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY   SYSTEM 


169 


The  species  of  fossils  collected  from  the  lower  loess-like  silt  at  the  out- 
crop along  Mississippi  River  were  identified  some  years  ago  by  Dr.  Dall,  and 
are  listed  below : 

Helicina  occulta  Say  (very  abundant) 

Helicodiscus  lineatus  Say 

Limnaea  humilis  Say,  var. 

Pyramidula  perspectiva  Say 

Pyramidula  striatella  Auth. 

Pupa  armifera  Say 

Strobilops  labryinthica  Say 

Succinea  avara  Say  (less  abundant  than  in  the  surface  loess) 

Succinea  luteola  Gould 

Vitrea  arborea  Say? 

In  texture  and  general  appearance  this  lower  loess-like  silt  closely  resem- 
bles the  surface  loess,  and  was  probably  deposited  by  the  wind  in  a  similar 
manner.  It  is  probably  rather  widely  distributed  beneath  the  oldest  drift 
in  Rock  Island  County,  and  like  the  surface  loess  it  is  probably  thicker  near 
the  east  bank  of  the  river  than  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  larger 
streams. 


1LLIN0IAN  TILL 


Except  along  the  streams  where  it  has  been  removed  by  post-Illinoian 
erosion,  the  Illinois  till  underlies  the  loess  over  almost  the  entire  area  of  the 


Fig.  26. — Fine-grained  water-laid  sand,  50  feet  thick  beneath  a  few  feet  of  Illinoian 
till  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  8  of  Eliza  Township. 

quadrangles.  It  is  a  bluish-gray  till  which  weathers  to  yellowish  gray  and 
contains  sufficient  sand  to  make  it  crumble  more  readily  than  the  older, 
Kansan  till.     The  sand  and  clay  making  up  the  main  body  of  the  till  were 


170 


V'EAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   191! 


probably  derived  for  the  most  part  from  local  beds  of  shale  and  sandstone 
that  had  been  rather  deeply  weathered  before  the  glacier  moved  over  the 
region.  The  coarser  constituents  of  the  Illinoian  till  consist  in  part  of  pebbles 
and  boulders  of  crystalline  rock  transported  from  areas  far  to  the  north  and 
northeast  of  the  quadrangles,  and  in  part  of  fragments  of  chert  and  limestone 
probably  derived  from  Paleozoic  limestones  that  outcrop  in  northern  Illinois 
and  southern  Wisconsin. 

The  Illinoian  drift  is  exposed  in  numerous  places  along  the  most  of 
the  larger  streams  of  the  area.     It  is  thickest  over  the  upland  south  of  Mill 


Fig.  27. — "Sea  mud"  or  fine-grained  sand 

underlying  sand  and  gravel  below 

Illinoian  till  in  the  NE.  ^  sec. 

14,   Eliza  Township. 


Fig.    28. — Sand   and   gravel    below   Illi- 
noian till,  exposed  in  the  NW.  % 
sec.  26,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W. 


Creek  and  Copperas  Creek  in  the  Milan  quadrangle,  where  many  wells  pene- 
trate a  thickness  of  100  to  150  feet  or  more  of  Pleistocene  deposits,  the 
greater  part  of  which  is  Illinoian  till.  The  thickness  is  only  slightly  less  on 
the  upland  south  of  Copperas  Creek  in  the  Edgington  quadrangle  and  on  the 
divide  between  this  creek  and  the  branches  of  Mississippi  River,  where  many 
water  wells  pass  through  more  than  100  feet  of  Pleistocene  strata.  The 
Quaternary  deposits  are  in  places  200  feet  thick  over  the  uplands  in  Eliza 
Township,  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  but  a 
greater  thickness  of  loess  and  sand  covers  the  hills  in  that  region,  and  the 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY    SYSTEM  171 

bed  of  sand  underlying  the  Illinoian  till  is  also  thicker  there  than  over  the 
greater  part  of  the  quadrangles,  so  that  the  thickness  of  the  Illinoian  till 
is  probably  less  than  on  the  areas  mentioned.  In  many  places  a  bed  of 
fine-grained  sand  (figs.  26,  27,  and  28),  known  by  the  well  drillers  as  "sea 

mud,"  underlies  the  Illinoian  till;  and  a  bed  of  sand  and  gravel  is  often 
present  immediately  above  this  drift.  Thin  lenses  of  sand  or  gravel  are  also 
present  at  one  or  more  levels  within  the  Illinoian  drift  in  this  region. 

The  thickness  and  relations  of  the  Illinoian  till  in  different  places  in  the 
quadrangles  are  shown  in  the  logs  of  the  following  wells : 

Log  of  well  at  the  McDonald  (No.  92)  School,  near  the  SE.  cor. 

sec.  30,  T.  16  N.,  R.  1  W. 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata                                                   Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Loess,  yellow 35  35 

Till,  dark  blue,  pebbly .' 95  130 

Sand    9  139 

Till,  light  blue 36  175 

Sand,  dirty    7  182 

Log  of  zvcll  near  SW.  cor.  sec.  2,  T.15N.,  R.3W. 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata                                                   Feet  Feet 
Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil,  black   4  4 

Loess,   yellowish    15  19 

Clay,  black,  with  wood  fragments 2  21 

Till,  blue,  pebbly 26  47 

Sand    60  107 

Log  of  zvcll  in  NE.  %  sec.  8,  T.  15  N.,  R.  3  IV. 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata                                                   Feet  Feet 
Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and  loess  18  18 

Clay,  black  (muck  or  chip  pile) 2  20 

Till,  blue,  pebbly,  with  streaks  of  sand 30  50 

Sandstone 2  52 

Log  of  well  in  SE.  yA  sec.  28,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W. 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata                                                   Feet  Feet 
Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Clay,  yellowish   20  20 

Clay,  black,  with  wood  fragments  4  24 

Till,  blue,  pebbly  (hard  pan) 52  76 

Sand    5+  81+ 


172  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Illinoian  till  is  exposed  in  many  places  along  the  streams  in  both  the 
Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles.  An  exposure  along  the  wagon  road 
up  the  river  hill  south  from  Jimtown  School,  in  the  NE.  y±  sec.  5,  T.  16  N., 
R.  5  W.,  shows  the  following  succession  of  strata : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  near  Jimtown  School 

Thickness 

Feet 

Loess,  yellow,    fossiliferous 22 

Till,  pebbly,  bluish  gray    35 

Shale,   dark  and  gray    43 

In  the  south  bank  of  Copperas  Creek  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  19,  T.  16  N., 
R.  4  W.,  there  is  exposed  a  bed  of  sand  and  gravel  within  the  Illinoian  till. 
A  section  of  the  strata  outcropping  at  this  place  is  as  follows : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  19,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess,   brown,   sandy    5 

Till,  sandy,  with  small  pebbles 8 

Sand  and  gravel    4  to  5 

Till,  bluish  gray,  pebbly,  and  sandy 10 

Farther  south,  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  a 

bed  of  sand  several  feet  thick,  which  probably  corresponds  to  the  4-to-5-foot 

sand  and  gravel  bed  of  the  last  section,  is  exposed  in  many  places  beneath 

a  few  feet  of  Illinoian  till.     A  typical  section  of  such  an  outcrop  is  given 

below : 

Section  of  Pleistocene  strata  exposed  in  the 

SE.  %  sec.  18,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W. 

Thickness 

Feet 

Loess   7  to  9 

Till,  pebbly,  bluish  gray   10 

Sand,    irregularly   stratified    35 

In  an  exposure  about  three-eighths  of  a  mile  west  of  the  one  last 
described,  a  thickness  of  53  feet  of  irregularly  bedded  sand  is  present  below 
6  to  9  feet  of  Illinoian  till.  Whether  another  bed  of  till  underlies  the  sand 
in  this  region  could  not  be  determined. 

Another  outcrop  of  Pleistocene  strata  on  a  branch  of  Copperas  Creek  hi 
the  SE.  14  sec.  17,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  shows  the  following  succession  of 
deposits : 

Section   of  Pleistocene  strata    exposed   in   SE.  %  sec.  17,    T.16N.,   R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

4.     Loess,    brown    4 

3.     Till,  sandy  and  gravelly,  in  some  places  rather  distinctly  sorted 8  to  11 

2.     Till,  brown,  pebbly  16 

1.     Till,  darker  than  No.  2  above,  and  separated  from  it  by  a  rather  defi- 
nite plane ;    to  water  level    4 


EDGINGTON-MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY    SYSTEM  173 

The  lower  till  in  the  last  section  may  represent  the  Kansan,  as  the  plane 
of  contact  of  this  bed  with  the  overlying  brown  till  is  sharp  and  conspicuous. 
However,  the  evidence  regarding  the  different  age  is  not  conclusive. 

A  bed  of  sand  and  gravel  probably  deposited  as  an  outwash  when  the 
Illinoian  ice  sheet  was  melting  from  the  region  is  in  many  places  present 
above  the  Illinoian  drift,  and  beneath  the  loess.  A  representative  exposure 
of  such  a  sand  bed  was  seen  on  a  branch  of  Eliza  Creek,  near  the  NE.  corner 
of  sec.  22,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W.,  the  relations  of  which  are  as  follows: 

Section  of  Pleistocene  deposits  exposed  near  the 
NE.  cor.  sec.  22,   T.15N.,   R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess,  yellowish  brown,  fossiliferous 15 

Sand  and  gravel,  and  boulders  up  to  6  inches  in  diameter 2y2  to  4 

Till,  bluish,  pebbly   11 

A  succession  of  strata  similar  to  those  described  in  the  last  section  out- 
crops near  the  SE.  corner  sec.  20,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  as  shown  below: 

Section  of  Pleistocene  strata  exposed  in  sec.  20,  T.16N.,  R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess  13 

Sand  and  gravel  in  irregular  layers 3  to  5 

Till,  bluish  gray,  sandy,  with  pebbles 19 

In  a  few  places  in  the  quadrangles  a  thin  bed  of  gravel  that  appears  to 
have  been  concentrated  by  the  removal  of  the  finer  constituents  of  the  till 
is  present  at  the  top  of  the  Illinoian  drift  and  beneath  the  loess.  An  exposure 
of  such  a  bed  of  concentrated  gravel  was  seen  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  28,  T.  16  N., 
R.  5  W.,  as  shown  below : 

Section  of  Pleistocene  strata  exposed  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  28,  T.16N.,  R.5W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

Loess     V/2 

Gravel,  apparently  concentrated  from  the  till 1 

Till,  bluish  gray,  with  pebbles 26 

SANGAMON    SOIL  ZONE 

The  Sangamon  interglacial  soil  or  peat  horizon  is  represented  in  this 
region  by  a  band  of  black  carbonaceous  clay  containing  many  plant  remains 
and  wood  fragments.  This  dark-colored  band  contains  such  a  large  amount 
of  imperfectly  decomposed  vegetable  material  that  it  is  often  reported  by 
the  well  drillers  as  a  "brush  pile"  or  "chip  pile"  or  "manure  pile."  It  was 
developed  as  a  soil  or  peat  horizon  on  the  surface  of  the  Illinoian  till  during 
the  interglacial  stage  that  intervened  between  the  withdrawal  of  the  Illinoian 


174 


YEAR  BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   191! 


ice  sheet  and  the  deposition  of  the  overlying  loess.  The  relation  of  this 
Sangamon  soil  band  to  the  Illinoian  till  is  shown  in  some  of  the  logs  of  wells 
given  on  the  preceding  pages  to  illustrate  the  stratigraphic  relation  of  the  Illi- 
noian till.  The  Sangamon  soil  zone  was  reported  in  the  logs  of  61  wells  in  the 
quadrangles  which  are  well  distributed  over  the  area.  It  lies  immediately 
beneath  the  loess  at  depths  ranging,  with  the  varying  thickness  of  the  loess, 
from  12  to  30  feet. 

A  few  additional  logs  of  water  wells  in  different  parts  of  the  quad- 
rangles will  show  the  character  and  distribution  of  the  Sangamon  soil  in 
this  area. 

Log  of  well  near  middle  of  E.  ]/2  sec.  12,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  IV. 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Clay,   yellow :    loess    17  17 

"Chip  pile"  3  20 

Clay,   blue,   pebbly    (Illinoian   till) 22  42 


Log  of  well  near  middle  of  W.Yzsec.  36,  T.17N.,  RAW. 

Thickness 
Description  of   strata  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and  yellowish  clay   (loess) 18 

Clay,  dark,  with  much  plant  debris  (Sangamon  soil) 2 

Clay,  bluish  gray,  pebbly  (Illinoian  till)    20 


Depth 

Feet 


IK 
20 

40 


Log  of  well  in  SW.yA  sec.  12,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  W. 

Thickness 
Description  of  strata  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and  yellow  clay   (loess) 15 

Clay,  dark,  with  wood  fragments  (Sangamon  soil) 3 

Clay,  bluish,  pebbly  (Illinoian  till) 42 

Sand  white 


Depth 

Feet 


15 
18 
60 


Log   of  ivcll  in  SW.  YA  sec.  2,   T.  15  N.,   R.  3  IV. 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and   clay    15  15 

"Manure   pile"    •. 1 1  $h  18 

Clay,  pebbly,  blue    2$:  43 

Sand     60  103 


EDGIXGTOX-MILAN    AREA:      QUATERNARY   SYSTEM 


175 


THE    LOESS 


Over  all  of  the  uplands  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 
loess  overlies  the  Illinoian  drift  and  Sangamon  soil  to  an  average  thick- 
ness of  perhaps  25  feet.  On  the  tops  of  the  bluffs  bordering  the  south 
and  east  sides  of  the  larger  streams  the  thickness  in  places  reaches  40  or 
more  feet.  On  Thirty-eighth  Street,  in  Rock  Island,  it  measures  40  feet. 
On  the  bluff  at  Black  Hawk's  Watch  Tower,  in  the  SE.  %  sec.  14, 
T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  the  thickness  is  55  feet.  In  the  abandoned  clay  pit  of 
the  old  National  Clay  Company,  in  the  east  bluff  of  the  river,  near  Sears 
(fig.  29),  the  loess  is  40  feet  thick.  In  many  places  on  the  bluffs  along 
the  rivers  the  thickness  exceeds  30  feet.  At  a  distance  from  the  rivers 
the  thickness  decreases,  in  many  places  being  less  than  20  feet. 


Fig.  29. — Bluff  of  loess  in  old  clay  pit  of  Blackhawk  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Sears, 

Illinois.     The  loess  here  is  somewhat  sandy,  and  on  weathering  shows 

laminations.     The  holes  were  made  by  bank  swallows. 

As  shown  in  well  sections  and  outcrops  the  loess  in  most  places  lies 
just  beneath  the  surface  soil,  and  consists  of  uniformly  fine-grained,  un- 
stratified,  dust-like  material  that  contains  a  small  amount  of  calcium  car- 
bonate. Where  it  has  been  cut  by  streams  or  excavations  it  stands  for 
a  long  time  in  almost  vertical  banks.  In  many  places,  especially  on  the 
hill  tops  where  the  deposit  is  thick,  it  contains  indiscriminately  distrib- 
uted shells  of  air-breathing  gastropods. 


176  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

The  following  species  identified  by  Dr.  Dall,  of  the  United  States 
National  Museum,  are  among  the  common  fossils  that  occur  in  the  loess 
of  this  region : 

List  of  fossils  occurring  commonly  in  the  loess  of  the  Milan 
and  Edgington  quadrangles 

Helicina  occulta  Say 
Succinea  luteola  Gld. 
Succinea  avara  Say 
Succinea  obliqua  Say 
Polygyra  pennsylvanica  Green 
Polygyra  thyroides  Say 
Pupa  alticola  Ingersoll 
Pupa  pentadon  Say 
Pupa  muscorum  Linn 
Pyramidula  striatella  Anthony 

The  color  of  the  loess  on  the  hills  is  yellow  grading  to  brown  or 
gray,  but  on  the  level  prairies,  where  the  dark  surface  soil  is  deeper,  the 
underlying  loess  is  more  gray  in  color.  The  difference  in  the  color  of  the 
loess  on  the  hills  and  on  the  prairies  is  not  thought  to  be  due  to  any  dif- 
ference in  origin,  but  to  differences  in  the  degree  of  leaching  and  alter- 
ation by  the  action  of  organic  matter. 

In  the  SW.  *4  sec.  36,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.,  a  thickness  of  22  feet  of  loess 
containing  many  loess  fossils  and  calcareous  concretions,  or  loess  Kind- 
chen,  is  exposed.  An  iron-stained  band,  one  inch  thick,  is  present  near  the 
middle  of  this  exposure,  above  which  the  deposit  is  slightly  more  brown 
than  that  below  it.  The  tops  of  the  hills  bordering  Mississippi  River  in 
the  vicinity  of  Illinois  City  and  farther  east,  are  capped  with  loess.  Near 
the  foot  of  the  hill  in  the  SW.  ]/4  sec.  31,  T.  17  N.,  R.  4  W.,  a  sandy  loess 
containing  loess  fossils  is  exposed  to  a  height  of  12  feet,  and  a  similar 
loess  deposit  covers  the  drift  all  the  way  up  this  hill  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  6, 
T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.  A  thickness  of  35  feet  of  loess  overlies  the  till  along 
the  wagon  road  near  the  middle  of  the  N.  y2  sec.  2,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W. 
Over  the  western  part  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  as  elsewhere  in  this 
region,  loess  usually  covers  the  slopes  at  least  part  way  down  where  they 
are  steep,  and  entirely  to  the  bottom  where  they  are  moderately  gentle, 
as  well  as  the  tops  of  the  hills,  and  the  uplands.  It  is  in  places  underlain 
by  a  sandy  bed  of  reddish-brown  color,  which  overlies  the  drift.  At  the 
base  of  this  sand  bed  springs  issue  in  many  places  in  the  banks  of  the 
streams. 

Topographic  features  of  the  loess. — Near  the  river  the  ravines  are  deep 
with  steep  sides  which  give  the  impression  of  youthfulness  to  the  topog- 
raphy. This  is  due  to  the  thick  deposit  of  loess  on  the  hills  where  it 
tends  to  stand  in  nearly  perpendicular  banks. 


EDGINGTOX-MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY    SYSTEM 


177 


In  places  along  the  bluff-lines  facing  north  and  west  the  loess  has  a 
characteristic  relief  peculiar  to  itself.  As  the  bluff  is  approached  from 
the  upland  the  surface  slopes  gently  toward  the  river  until  about  one- 
fourth  mile  from  the  bluff,  where  the  slope  becomes  reversed  as  a  result 
of  the  piling  up  of  the  loess  on  the  tops  of  the  hills  bordering  the  valley. 
There  is  formed  in  this  way  a  rim  of  thick  loess  along  the  bluff  behind 
which  there  may  occur  a  shallow,  poorly  drained  depression.  Such  a 
feature  is  conspicuous  in  the  southeast  part  of  Rock  Island,  and  in  the 
bluffs  forming  the  south  bank  of  Mississippi  River  for  some  distance 
east  and  west  of  Andalusia. 

Another  topographic  feature  of  this  deposit  is  the  low,  loess-covered 
margin  of  the  uplands  about  a  mile  south  of  Milan,  where  there  is  an 
area  about  a  mile  long  and  a  half  a  mile  wide  that  is  noticeably  lower 
than  the  adjacent  portion  of  the  marginal  upland.  The  loess  that  covers 
this  lower  area  is  somewhat  coarser  than  the  typical  loess,  and  is  in 
places  obscurely  stratified.  A  similar  deposit  occurs  in  the  basal  part  of 
the  loess  on  Seventh  Avenue  near  Thirty-fifth  Street,  where  it  grades 
horizontally  into  typical  loess. 


^^ 


Fig.  30. — Faults  in  the  Pleistocene  deposits  near  Augustana  College  in  Rock  Island. 

Three  blocks  are  seen  separated  by   two   sharply   marked  vertical   faults. 

The  boulder  clay  can  be  distinguished  from  the  overlying  loess  by  the 

small  parallel  rills  in  the  surface  of  the  former.     The  nearest  block 

has  settled  most.     In  it  the  base  of  the  loess  lies  below  the 

shadow  of  the  telephone  pole.     In  the  middle  block  its  base 

is  covered  by  a  growth  of  grass.     The  farther  block 

has  settled  unequally  so  that  the  base  of 

the  loess  is  slanting. 


Miscellaneous  features  of  the  loess. — Two  other  uncommon  features 
occur  in  the  loess  in  this  area.  In  some  places  the  lower  part  of  the  loess 
deposit  is  crumpled  into  small  flexures  about  one  foot  in  height  and 
width,  and  in  other  places  it  is  intricately  faulted  in  such  a  manner  as  to 


178 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


indicate  that  the  deposit  was  frozen  when  the  faulting  occurred,  as  shown 
in  figures  30  and  31.  The  larger  of  these  faults  extend  downward  into 
the  underlying  till,  and  some  of  the  fissures  have  been  enlarged  and  filled 
with  water-laid  sand. 

The  basal  part  of  the  loess  shows  considerable  variation  in  physical 
characteristics.  In  many  places  there  is  a  gradual  change  from  a  leached 
till  below  to  a  humus-filled  loess  or  clay  (Sangamon  soil)  above,  in  which 
fossil  wood  is  common,  and  bones  and  teeth  of  elephants  are  occasionally 
found. 

A  carpal  bone  and  part  of  a  tooth  of  an  elephant  were  found  in  such 
a  deposit  in  the  bluff  near  Twentieth  Street,  in  Rock  Island,  and  a  piece 
of  a  tusk  was  found  in  the  base  of  the  loess  at  Sears.  In  other  places 
the   till   changes   upward   into   a    ferruginous    red   zone   which   is   overlain 


Fig.  31. — Small  faults  in  the  loess,  in  Rock  Island. 


by  normal  upland  loess.  In  a  few  places  there  is  an  abrupt  change  from 
fresh,  unleached  till  to  typical  loess  above,  the  contact  being  sharply 
marked.  An  exposure  of  such  a  contact  was  seen  in  the  south  bluff  of 
Rock  River  on  the  east  side  of  the  new  wagon  road  that  follows  the  east 
boundary  of  the  Milan  quadrangle.  On  the  west  side  of  the  road  at  this 
place  a  thickness  of  3  feet  of  gravel  intervened  between  the  loess  and 
the  till. 

The  geographic  relation  of  the  main  deposit  of  loess  in  the  upper 
Mississippi  valley  to  the  border  of  the  area  covered  by  the  Iowan  ice 


EDGIXGTOX-MILAN   AREA:      QUATERNARY    SYSTEM  179 

sheet ;  its  stratigraphic  position  beneath  the  Wisconsin  drift,  and  above 
the  Illinoian  and  older  drifts  from  which  it  is  in  many  places  separated 
by  a  leached  zone,  peat,  or  soil  bed,  and  by  an  erosional  unconformity 
representing  a  long  period ;  and  the  presence  in  the  loess  of  fossil  shells 
of  air-breathing  gastropods  that  lived  under  climatic  conditions  similar 
to  those  prevailing  in  the  region  today  make  it  probable  that  conditions 
peculiarly  favorable  for  the  accumulation  of  loess  occurred  during  the 
melting  and  for  some  time  after  the  disappearance  of  the  Iowan  ice  sheet. 
A  small  amount  of  loess  overlies  the  Wisconsin  drift  in  Illinois,  and  dust 
deposits  somewhat  resembling  loess  are  now  being  formed.  It  is  proba- 
ble that  a  part  of  the  original  main  deposit  of  loess  has  been  shifted  and 
reworked  and  that  other  dust  has  accumulated  since  the  Peorian  inter- 
glacial  stage,  but  the  total  amount  of  such  material  is  comparatively 
small. 

There  seems  no  doubt  that  the  loess  in  this  region,  as  elsewhere  in 
the  Mississippi  valley,  was  deposited  by  the  wind.  This  is  shown  by  the 
following  facts:  (1)  The  deposit  does  not  tend  to  level  the  inequalities 
of  the  surface,  but  mantles  hills,  prairies,  and  lowlands  alike.  (2)  It  is 
conspicuously  thickest,  and  somewhat  coarser  in  texture,  on  the  tops  of 
the  hills  bordering  the  south  and  east  sides  of  the  larger  streams  in 
places  where  the  prevailing  westerly  winds,  after  following  the  stream 
valley  for  some  distance,  would  be  obstructed  by  the  opposing  banks, 
and  compelled  to  drop  a  large  part  of  their  load  as  a  result  of  their  re- 
duced velocity.  (3)  The  loess  differs  from  ordinary  water-laid  clay  in 
the  general  absence  of  stratification.  (4)  It  contains  shells  of  air-breath- 
ing gastropods  which,  though  exceedingly  fragile,  are  commonly  un- 
broken. 

TERRACE    DEPOSITS 

In  places  along  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  there  are  small  terrace 
areas  that  are  remnants  of  an  alluvial  filling  in  the  valleys  of  these 
streams  deposited  during  the  stage  of  Wisconsin  glaciation.  The  upper 
surface  of  the  terraces  lies  20  to  30  feet  higher  than  the  level  of  adjacent 
flood  plains  of  the  streams.  The  largest  of  these  terrace  areas  is  between 
one-fourth  and  one-half  mile  wide,  and  extends  almost  continuously  near 
the  east  bank  of  Mississippi  River  from  Twenty-eighth  Street  in  Rock 
Island  south  as  far  as  Sears.  The  material  in  this  terrace  consists 
mostly  of  sand,  with  some  gravel,  which  is  covered  by  a  thin  veneer  of 
loess  or  silt.  Sand  and  gravel  pits  were  once  extensively  worked  in  this 
terrace  deposit  in  the  south  part  of  Rock  Island.  Some  sand  and  gravel  in 
the  south  bank  of  the  Government  reservation  above  the  west  end  of  the 
power  dam  probably  belongs  also  to  this  terrace  deposit.  The  hill  at  Mount 
View  School  on  the  flood  plain  of  Rock  River  in  the  N.  y2  sees.  20  and  21, 
T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  is  a  remnant  of  such  a  terrace  that  has  been  protected 


180  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

from  destruction  by  the  river  by  an  outlier  of  Devonian  limestone  at  the  east 
end.  Some  of  the  terrace  sand  at  this  place  has  been  blown  into  small  dunes. 
In  several  places  where  creeks  emerge  on  the  alluvial  plains  of  the 
rivers  there  are  some  remnants  of  deposits  evidently  formed  in  backwater 
in  the  valleys  of  the  small  tributaries.  Such  a  small  terrace  fragment  is 
present  in  the  valley  of  Mill  Creek  one-half  mile  south  of  the  river  bluff, 
and  in  the  west  bank  of  Warren  Creek,  a  short  distance  southeast  of  the 
center  of  sec.  29,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.  A  section  of  the  backwater  deposits 
at  this  place  is  as  follows : 

Section  of  terrace  deposits  at  mouth  of  Warren  Creek 

Thickness 
Ft.    In. 

Loess     1        6 

Joint  clay,  dirty  brown    2 

Silt,  yellow,  moderately  fine 3 

Silt,  yellowish  gray,  laminated   4 

Silt,  red  1        4 

Silt,  dark  gray,  irregularly  laminated 8 

Silt,  pink  and  gray 8 

Silt,  gray,  not  distinctly  laminated 3        6 

Sand  and  gravel,  yellow 3 

Concealed  by  talus   8 

A  red  and  yellow  silt  similar  to  that  exposed  on  Warren  Creek  outcrops 
under  the  railroad  bridge  over  Turkey  Hollow,  in  section  30  of  the  same 
township.  At  the  latter  place  a  part  of  the  old  terrace  has  been  cut  away 
by  the  present  stream,  the  more  recent  alluvium  overlying  the  terrace  deposits 
unconformably.  On  the  west  side  of  a  creek  cutting  the  Mississippi  bluffs 
in  the  NE.  %  sec-  26,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.,  there  occurs  a  terrace  remnant 
several  acres  in  extent,  and  a  few  small  patches  were  noted  in  other  places 
as  indicated  on  the  accompanying  geological  map  of  the  quadrangles. 

RECENT   SERIES 
ALLUVIUM 

Deposits  of  alluvium  are  present  along  most  of  the  streams  in  the  quad- 
rangles, the  most  extensive  being  along  the  valleys  of  Mississippi  and  Rock 
rivers.  Smaller  areas  of  alluvium  border  the  channels  of  Edwards  River  and 
Mill,  Copperas,  Camp,  and  Eliza  creeks,  and  the  lower  courses  of  smaller 
streams. 

The  thickness  of  the  alluvial  deposits  is  relatively  thin,  being  less  than 
20  feet  over  the  greater  part  of  the  bottom  lands  of  this  region,  including 
those  of  the  rivers.  In  one  place,  however,  a  short  distance  north  of  the 
southwest  corner  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  a  water  well  was  reported 
to  have  penetrated  a  thickness  of  120  feet  of  alluvial  sand  and  gravel  with- 
out reaching  bed  rock,  and  a  test  boring  put  down  on  the  flood  plain  of 


EDGIXGTON-MILAN    AREA:      QUATERNARY    SYSTEM  181 

Copperas  Creek  in  the  SE.  %  sec.  16,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  passed  through  a 
thickness  of  68  feet  of  unconsolidated  surficial  deposits  above  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian  rocks.  A  well  on  the  flood  plain  of  Rock  River,  in  the  NE.  %  sec- 
20,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  passed  through  42  feet  of  sand  and  clay,  and  another 
well  near  the  edge  of  the  flood  plain  in  the  NE.  14  sec.  30,  of  the  same 
township  penetrated  47  feet  of  alluvial  material.  The  deposit  in  many  places 
consists  of  sand  and  small  pebbles,  as  near  the  SW.  corner  of  sec.  22,  T.  17 
N.,  R.  2  W.,  where  it  is  worked  on  quite  a  large  scale  for  gravel.  In  other 
places,  as  along  Edwards  River,  silt  and  clay  are  the  principal  constituents. 
While  the  greater  part  of  the  material  of  the  flood  plain  deposits  was  laid 
down  by  the  main  streams  that  occupy  the  valleys  and  is  fairly  well  sorted, 
on  the  margins  of  the  valleys  near  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  a  considerable 
amount  of  poorly  sorted  talus,  sheet  wash,  and  alluvial-fan  material  is  mixed 
with  the  alluvium  where  this  valley  plain  rises  in  a  short  slope  to  the  bluffs. 

DUNE    SAND 

Although  considerable  sand  is  present  in  places  over  the  flood  plains  of 
Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers,  in  only  a  few  localities  has  the  sand  been 
shifted  by  the  wind  to  any  important  extent,  and  deposited  in  hills  or  dunes. 
A  few  small  hills  have  been  formed  on  the  surface  of  the  terrace  on  which 
Mound  View  School  is  located,  in  sees.  20  and  21,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and 
in  a  few  places  on  the  Mississippi  River  flood  plain  in  sees.  31  and  32, 
T.  17  N.,  R.  5  W.  Sand  or  sandy  loess  caps  several  of  the  hills  that  border 
the  east  side  of  the  valley  of  Mississippi  River  near  the  west  side  of  the 
Edgington  quadrangle,  as  in  sees.  18,  19,  30,  and  32,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W.,  and 
in  sees.  8,  18,  19,  and  30,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.  In  sec.  8  of  the  latter  township 
there  are  a  number  of  small  ponds  surrounded  by  hills  of  sandy  material. 
These  ponds  have  not  yet  developed  outlets,  probably  because  the  water 
readily  soaks  out  through  the  porous  sand  that  forms  the  higher  parts  of 
their  banks. 

STRUCTURE  OF  THE  PALEOZOIC  ROCKS 

In  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  the  layers  Of  rock  are  not  quite 
horizontal,  but  in  general  they  slope  toward  the  south  at  the  rate  of  a  few 
feet  to  the  mile.  In  an  east-west  direction  the  dip  of  the  strata  is  more 
irregular  and  undulating;  in  some  places  the  slope  is  toward  the  west,  and 
in  other  places  the  direction  of  dip  is  eastward. 

Structure  of  Pre-Pennsylvanian  Rocks 

The  structure  or  dip  of  the  Silurian  and  Devonian  rocks  appears  to  be 
somewhat  different  from  that  of  the  Pennsylvanian  strata  in  this  region. 
These  older  rocks  dip  in  general  toward  the  southwest  at  the  average  rate 
of  about  9  feet  per  mile,  as  shown  by  the  following  observations : 


]g2  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

In  George  Gray's  well,  one-fourth  mile  north  of  the  southeast  corner 
of  sec.  10,  T.  15  N.,  R.  3  W.,  the  main  water-bearing  stratum  of  the  Niagaran 
limestone  lies  about  332  feet  above  sea  level,  and  in  the  well  at  Augustana 
College,  about  14  miles  north  and  7  miles  east  of  the  former  well,  the 
corresponding  horizon  was  reached  at  an  altitude  of  485  feet. 

The  southward  descent  of  the  Devonian  rocks  near  the  east  border  of 
the  Milan  quadrangle  between  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  is  nearly  10  feet 
to  the  mile;  but  there  is  a  rise  of  these  rocks  in  the  next  3  miles  farther 
south.  In  the  vicinity  of  Cable,  near  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Milan 
quadrangle,  the  elevation  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  is  about  513  feet  above 
the  sea.  If  the  upper  surface  of  the  Devonian  at  Cable  is  the  same  horizon 
as  that  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  exposed  along  Mississippi  River,  15  miles 
farther  north,  a  general  southward  dip  of  these  strata  at  an  average  rate 
of  only  3  feet  per  mile  is  indicated  between  Cable  and  Mississippi  River. 

In  an  east-west  direction  along  Mississippi  River  the  Devonian  limestone 
dips  toward  the  west  across  the  Milan  quadrangle,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that 
the  top  of  the  unfossiliferous  Devonian  limestone  along  Sylvan  channel  is 
about  580  feet  above  the  sea  level,  while  a  short  distance  below  Andalusia, 
12  miles  farther  west,  the  altitude  of  this  horizon  of  the  Devonian  is  about 
535  feet,  making  the  average  westward  dip  between  these  places  about  4 
feet  to  the  mile.  Six  miles  still  farther  west,  in  the  SE.  y±  sec.  17,  T.  17  N., 
R.  1  E.,  the  corresponding  level  of  the  Devonian  limestone  occurs  at  an 
altitude  of  585  feet,  indicating  a  rise  of  the  Devonian  between  these  points 
of  50  feet,  or  about  8  feet  to  the  mile.  The  elevation  of  the  same  rocks  in 
the  north  bank  of  Rock  River  at  the  east  border  of  the  Milan  quadrangle 
is  about  545  feet,  which  is  only  10  feet  higher  than  12  miles  farther  west, 
and  about  40  feet  lower  than  18  miles  farther  west. 

Near  the  south  end  of  the  quadrangles  the  dip  of  the  Devonian  strata 
is  in  general -quite  similar  to  that  along  Mississippi  River  farther  north.  A 
well  near  the  middle  of  the  east  side  of  sec.  33,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W.,  was 
reported  to  have  reached  the  top  of  a  thick  limestone,  which  was  probably 
Devonian,  immediately  beneath  a  bed  of  sand  and  gravel  at  an  elevation 
about  445  feet  above  sea  level.  If  the  horizon  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian 
at  this  place  corresponds  with  that  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  in  the  George 
Gray  well  13  miles  farther  east,  where  the  altitude  is  457  feet,  a  westward 
dip  of  about  one  foot  per  mile  is  indicated  between  these  places.  Between 
the  George  Gray  well  and  Cable,  a  distance  of  10  miles,  the  top  of  the 
Devonian  declines  toward  the  west  56  feet,  or  about  5y2  feet  to  the  mile. 
Between  the  locality  in  the  Edgington  quadrangle  in  sec.  33,  T.  15  N., 
R.  5  W.,  and  the  SE.  %  sec.  20,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  E.,  a  distance  of  about  16 
miles,  the  southward  slope  of  the  top  of  the  Devonian  is  163  feet,  or  about 
10  feet  to  the  mile. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:       STRUCTURE  183 

On  this  general  dip  some  minor  flexures  are  imposed.  One  of  these, 
known  from  outcrops  and  well  records,  consists  of  an  uplift  or  anticline 
20  to  30  feet  in  height,  exposed  in  the  bed  and  banks  of  Mill  Creek  near 
the  center  of  sec.  25,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  where  for  a  short  distance'  the 
unfossiliferous  member  (No.  2)  of  the  general  Devonian  section  rises  in 
the  left  bank  5  feet  above  the  bed  of  the  creek.  A  short  distance  farther 
north  this  horizon  of  the  Devonian  suddenly  disappears,  and  the  overlying 
member,  No.  3,  of  the  general  section  is  exposed  in  the  banks  of  the  creek 
for  about  one-fourth  mile  farther  north,  where  these  strata  also  disappear 
beneath  the  bed  of  the  creek.  A  slight  northward  dip  continues  to  Vandrufr* 
Island,  where  member  No.  2  of  the  general  Devonian  section  lies  about  at 
the  level  of  low  water  in  Rock  River.  The  arch  or  uplift  exposed  along 
Mill  Creek  is  also  clearly  indicated  in  the  deep  well  at  Milan,  where  the 
base  of  the  Maquoketa  lies  30  feet  higher  than  it  does  in  the  wells  in  Rock 
Island  3  to  4  miles  farther  north.  Member  No.  2  of  the  Devonian  general 
section  is  exposed  near  Oakdale,  in  the  SE.  *4  sec-  18,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  E., 
a  few  feet  above  its  normal  altitude  in  this  area,  which  suggests  that  the 
anticline  indicated  along  Mill  Creek  and  in  the  Milan  well  may  continue 
through  Oakdale  about  20  rods  north  of  the  wagon  bridge  over  the  creek 
in  the  NE.  %  sec.  27,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.  A  low  anticline  about  50  feet  in 
width  is  exposed  in  the  banks  of  a  creek,  and  a  short  distance  farther  north 
a  shallow  syncline  also  crosses  this  stream.  The  axis  of  the  anticline  and 
syncline  trends  northwest-southeast  in  a  direction  nearly  parallel  with  that 
of  the  uplift  indicated  at  Milan  and  Oakdale. 

The  general  southwestward  tilting  of  the  pre-Pennsylvanian  rocks  was 
not  entirely  accomplished  before  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  were  deposited, 
for  the  latter  strata  are  slightly  affected  by  this  movement.  The  elevation 
of  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  is  usually  lower  in  the  localities  where 
it  outcrops  a  short  distance  east  of  the  middle  of  the  south  side  of  the 
Edgington  quadrangle,  than  that  of  the  coal  17  miles  farther  east  in  the 
vicinity  of  Cable. 

Structure  of  the  Pennsylvanian  Rocks 

In  the  north  and  south  parts  of  the  quadrangles  wherever  the  Herrin 
(No.  6)  coal  bed  is  present,  the  structure  of  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks 
can  be  determined  fairly  accurately  by  using  this  coal  as  the  key  horizon. 

In  the  Edgington  quadrangle  the  coal  beds  show  a  very  slight  south- 
ward dip  between  the  places  noted  below :  In  the  SE,  yA  sec.  20,  T.  77  N., 
R.  1  E.,  the  Herrin  coal  outcrops  at  an  elevation  of  658  feet.  About  7 
miles  farther  south,  in  the  SE.  14  sec.  21,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  the  altitude 
of  the  coal  is  654  feet.  Seven  miles  still  farther  south,  in  the  SE.  y4  sec. 
28,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  W.,  the  altitude  of  the  Herrin  coal  is  650  feet.  In  the  Milan 
quadrangle  the  lay  of  this  coal  bed  is  more  irregular,  and  undulating,  but 
the  general  southward  dip  is  also  slight.     Near  the  middle  of  the   north 


Jg4  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

line  of  sec.  32,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  the  altitude  of  the  Rock  Island  ( ?)  coal  is 
about  654  feet.  Seven  miles  farther  south  near  the  NW.  corner  of  sec.  4, 
T.  15  N.,  R.  1  W.,  the  elevation  of  this  bed  is  629  feet.  Four  miles  farther 
south,  in  the  NE.  14  sec-  29,  T.  15  N.,  R.  1  W.,  the  coal  has  risen  again 
to  650  feet  in  altitude. 

In  an  east-west  direction  the  Rock  Island  (?)  coal  bed  lies  at  an  eleva- 
tion of  658  feet  in  the  SE.  yA  sec.  20,  T.  77  N.,  R.  1  E.,  while  7  miles  farther 
east,  in  the  NW.  }i  sec.  16,  T.  77  N.,  R.  2  E.,  the  altitude  of  this  bed  is 
660  feet,  and  about  13  miles  farther  east,  at  Coal  Valley,  the  altitude  is  648 
feet.  Near  the  south  end  of  the  quadrangles  the  Herrin  coal  outcrops 
on  the  SE.  %  sec.  28,  T.  15  N.,  R.  4  W.,  at  an  altitude  of  650  feet.  Three 
miles  farther  east,  near  the  middle  of  the  east  side  of  sec.  24  of  the  same 
township,  it  has  risen  to  674  feet.  Ten  miles  farther  east,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Matherville,  the  altitude  has  decreased  to  650  feet  above  sea  level. 
While  the  general  dip  of  this  coal  in  any  direction  is  slight,  local  dips  of  25 
feet  in  short  distances  are  found.  In  mine  No.  3  of  the  Coal  Valley  Mining 
Company  at  Matherville  the  Herrin  coal  lies  at  an  elevation  of  about 
630  feet,  while  about  one  mile  southwest  of  this  place  near  the  middle  of 
sec.  33,  T.  15  N.,  R.  2  W.,  this  coal  outcrops  at  an  altitude  of  about  650 
feet.  Another  place  where  the  altitude  of  the  Rock  Island  (  ?)  coal  is  low  is 
in  the  shaft  of  mine  No.  2  of  the  Coal  Valley  Mining  Company  at  Sherrard, 
where  it  lies  at  an  elevation  of  612  feet,  while  at  Cable  about  3  miles  farther 
south  its  altitude  is  654  feet.  In  a  test  boring  in  the  town  of  Cable  the 
altitude  of  the  Rock  Island  (?)  coal  is  reported  30  feet  higher  than  its  eleva- 
tion in  an  old  coal  shaft  only  14  rods  farther  northeast.  Whether  this  abrupt 
change  in  elevation  is  due  to  a  fault  or  a  steep  dip  could  not  be  determined. 
In  the  coal  mine  at  Sherrard  the  coal  is  undulating,  a  difference  in  altitude 
of  12  feet  or  more  between  the  crests  and  troughs  being  common.  The  coal 
is  usually  thicker  in  the  troughs,  and  thinner  on  the  crests  of  these  rolls. 
In  mine  No.  7  of  the  Alden  Coal  Company,  the  coal  thins  out  in  the  east, 
north,  and  west  directions,  but  maintains  its  thickness  toward  the  south,  as 
in  the  Sherrard  mine.    The  main  dip  of  this  coal  is  toward  the  south  and  east. 

Some  of  the  minor  local  changes  in  the  altitude  of  this  coal  are  doubt- 
less due  to  slight  folding,  but  some  of  the  irregularities  are  probably  also 
due  to  the  inequalities  of  the  surface  on  which  the  vegetable  matter  that 
formed  the  coal  bed  accumulated,  and  to  the  unequal  thickness  of  the 
vegetable  matter  of  this  bed  from  place  to  place,  permitting  unequal  shrink- 
age when  this  vegetable  matter  was  transformed  into  coal.  The  No.  1  and 
No.  6  coals  are  probably  absent  over  the  larger  part  of  the  middle  portion  of 
the  Milan  quadrangle,  and  over  all  but  a  very  narrow  belt  one  to  two  miles 
east  of  the  central  part  and  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Edgington  quad- 
rangle. On  this  account  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  show  the  structure 
of  the  Pennsylvania!!  rocks  in  the  quadrangles  in  this  limited  area  by  means 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:       STRUCTURE  185 

of  contours  on  the  coals,  but  the  altitude  of  the  coal  is  shown  by  figures  at 
the  different  localities  in  the  area  where  it  has  been  found  in  outcrops, 
shafts,  or  borings. 

GEOLOGIC  HISTORY 
Imperfection  of  the  Record 

A  considerable  part  of  the  geologic  history  of  these  quadrangles  from 
the  beginning  of  the  Paleozoic  era  to  the  present  can  now  be  deciphered 
from  the  rocks  exposed  at  the  surface  or  encountered  in  borings  in  this 
region.  The  succession  of  events  from  the  beginning  of  the  Paleozoic  era 
to  the  end  of  the  Pennsylvanian  epoch  can  be  sketched  in  a  broad  way  from 
the  records  preserved  in  the  ancient  rocks  of  this  and  adjacent  areas.  The 
times  of  submergence,  the  sources  of  the  invading  seas,  and  the  general 
topography  of  the  region  during  the  times  of  emergence  can  be  described 
with  a  good  degree  of  assurance.  The  history  of  Mesozoic  and  Tertiary 
time  has  not  been  preserved  in  sedimentary  deposits  in  this  immediate 
region,  but  can  be  inferred  from  what  is  known  of  the  events  of  this  time 
in  other  parts  of  the  continent,  where  such  deposits  have  been  studied.  The 
record  of  many  of  the  principal  events  of  the  Quaternary  period  has  also 
been  preserved  in  the  quadrangles  in  legible  form.  Many  other  facts  in 
the  geologic  history  of  the  quadrangles  can  be  safely  inferred  from  the 
results  of  studies  in  other  areas  in  this  general  region,  for  the  processes  that 
operated  in  the  quadrangles  affected  also  an  extensive  province  around 
them. 

During  the  Paleozoic  era  the  surface  of  Illinois  was  intermittently 
submerged  by  an  epicontinental  sea,  the  shores  of  which  migrated  widely 
and  almost  continuously,  though  the  rate  at  which  they  shifted  varied 
greatly  from  time  to  time.  Since  Paleozoic  time  this  surface,  with  the 
exception  of  a  small  area  in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  has  been  con- 
tinuously above  sea  level,  and  subjected  to  the  agents  of  erosion  which  are 
constantly  acting  upon  the  lands. 

Paleozoic  Era 
cambrian  period 

At  the  beginning  of  Paleozoic  time  the  surface  of  Illinois  had  probably 
been  above  the  sea  for  a  long  time,  and  had  been  worn  by  erosion  to  a 
nearly  level  plain.  This  planed,  almost  level,  surface  of  Algonkian  rocks 
doubtless  forms  the  floor  beneath  the  Paleozoic  strata  over  the  entire  State, 
and  extends  far  beyond  its  borders  on  every  side.  During  the  latter  part 
of  the  Cambrian  period  a  sea  advanced  from  the  southwest  over  this  region, 
and  deposited  the  sand,  clay,  and  calcareous  material  that  make  up  the 
sandstones,  shale,  and  limestone  of  the  upper  Cambrian  or  Croixan  (Pots- 
dam) series  in  the  Mississippi  Valley.     Of  these  sediments  sandstones  pre- 


186  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1017  AND  1918 

dominate,  the  entire  series  having  a  known  thickness  of  868  or  more  feet. 
A  few  deep  borings  in  the  State  have  penetrated  these  upper  Cambrian 
rocks  to  a  depth  of  1,100  feet  without  reaching  the  top  of  the  Algonkian. 

ORDOVICIAN  PERIOD 

The  sediments  deposited  in  this  region  during  Ordovician  time  consist 
mainly  of  limestone  and  dolomite,  but  at  certain  times  important  deposits  of 
sand  and  mud  accumulated  over  extensive  areas.  The  oldest  division  of  this 
system  is  the  Prairie  du  Chien  limestone  or  dolomite,  which  was  accumulated 
in  rather  clear  seas  and  has  a  thickness  in  the  quadrangles  of  668  to  811 
feet.  After  a  break  in  sedimentation  this  limestone  deposition  was  followed 
by  the  St.  Peter  sandstone,  which  doubtless  also  underlies  the  entire  State 
except  in  a  few  small  patches  where  it  has  been  removed  by  erosion.  Its 
thickness  in  this  area  ranges  from  50  to  204  feet.  Above  the  St.  Peter 
sandstone  were  deposited  in  this  area  the  Platteville  and  Galena  limestones, 
320  to  370  feet  thick,  after  which  a  withdrawal  of  the  sea  put  a  stop  to 
deposition.  During  the  next  submergence  this  region,  like  the  greater  por- 
tion of  Illinois,  received  deposits  of  mud,  sand,  and  limy  sediment  which 
now  compose  the  shales,  sandstones,  and  shaly  limestones  of  the  Maquoketa 
formation.  The  average  thickness  of  this  formation  in  deep  wells  in  the 
area  was  204  feet. 

SILURIAN    PERIOD 

This  region  was  land  during  early  Silurian  time,  but  in  middle  Silurian 
time  the  area  comprised  in  the  Edgington  and  Milan  quadrangles  was  cov- 
ered by  a  clear  sea,  and  received  calcareous  deposits  known  as  the  Niagaran 
limestone  or  dolomite,  which  ranges  in  thickness  from  215  to  375  feet. 

DEVONIAN  PERIOD 

After  a  long  emergence  the  sediments  that  accumulated  above  the 
Niagaran  in  this  region  consist  of  limestones,  of  late  middle  Devonian  age, 
which  have  a  thickness  in  the  quadrangles  of  about  140  feet.  This  was 
followed  in  Upper  Devonian  time  by  the  widespread  deposition  of  dark  mud 
containing  great  numbers  of  fossil  spores,  of  lycopodaceous  plants.  This 
is  known  as  the  Sweetland  Creek  shale  formation,  which  was  probably  laid 
down  over  almost  the  entire  State.  It  is  well  exposed  along  Sweetland 
Creek,  in  Iowa,  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle,  and 
has  been  identified  in  well  borings  in  many  places  in  Illinois. 

MISSISSIPPIAN   PERIOD 

This  region  was  a  land  surface  between  the  deposition  of  the  upper 
Devonian  strata  and  the  lowermost  Mississippian.  During  the  Mississippian 
epoch  the  southern  part  of  the  Mississippi  valley  was  extensively  submerged. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      GEOLOGIC    HISTORY  187 

Although  no  rocks  belonging  to  this  epoch  have  been  found  in  place  in  the 
quadrangles,  yet  fragments  of  chert  occurring  in  the  basal  conglomerate  of 
the  Pennsylvanian  system  contained  molds  and  casts  of  fossils  characteristic 
of  early  or  middle  Mississippian  rocks,  indicating  that  more  or  less  of  these 
strata  were  originally  deposited  over  the  area. 

PENNSYLVANIAN  PERIOD 

POTTSVILLE  TIME 

For  a  long  time  after  the  middle  Mississippian  submergence  this  region 
was  a  land  surface  which  became  much  trenched  by  erosion  channels  and 
developed  considerable  relief  before  the  Pennsylvanian  sea  invaded  the 
region.  Upon  this  unevenly  eroded  surface  the  early  Pennsylvanian  rocks 
were  laid  down  when  the  sea  next  covered  the  area.  Slight  warping  pre- 
ceded the  invasion  of  the  Pennsylvanian  sea  which  transgressed  older  forma- 
tions over  extensive  areas  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 
In  early  Pennsylvanian  time  sedimentation  was  restricted  to  a  rather  narrow 
area  in  the  Eastern  Interior  coal  field  of  Illinois  and  northwestern  Kentucky. 
As  a  result  of  further  warping  movements  and  erosion  the  sea  was  permitted 
to  gradually  spread  northward,  and  extend  farther  eastward  and  westward. 
In  this  gradually  enlarging  basin  were  accumulated  the  sand  and  mud  and 
limy  clay  which  now  make  up  the  sandstone,  shale,  and  impure  limestone 
of  the  Pottsville  formation.  Layers  of  vegetal  material  interbedded  with 
the  other  sediments  indicate  the  existence  of  marshes  at  different  times. 
The  vegetal  material  that  accumulated  in  these  marshes  now  forms  irregular 
layers  or  lenses  of  coal,  ranging  from  thin  films  to  beds  which  locally  reach 
a  thickness  of  3  to  5  feet.  The  seas  that  from  time  to  time  covered  this  area 
during  the  Pottsville  epoch  were  so  shallow  that  some  of  the  higher  places 
were  probably  not  entirely  covered  during  the  time  of  submergence,  and 
a  slight  lowering  of  the  strand  line  resulted  in  the  emergence  of  the  higher 
areas.  Hence  deposition  was  not  uniform  over  this  region,  and  frequent 
changes  in  the  character  of  the  sediment  and  local  erosional  unconformities 
occur  within  the  Pottsville  beds. 

CARBONDALE   AND    MCLEANSBORO   TIME 

During  the  Carbondale  and  McLeansboro  epochs  this  immediate  area 
remained  above  the  sea  a  large  part  of  the  time.  However,  in  late  Carbondale 
time  a  marsh  in  which  the  vegetal  material  accumulated  that  later  became 
the  Herrin  coal,  existed  in  places  over  the  area ;  and  during  early  McLeans- 
boro time  there  was  a  great  transgression  of  the  sea,  permitting  the  deposi- 
tion of  the  limestone  containing  Girtyina,  and  higher  strata. 

Post-Pennsylvanian  Deformation 
Deposition  of  Pennsylvanian  time  was  closed  by  widespread  movements 
which  resulted  in  the  uplift  of  the  Appalachian  Mountains  in  the  east  and 
the  Ouachita  and  Ozark  Mountains  to  the  southwest,  and  the  further  uplift 


188  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

of  the  La  Salle  anticline  in  Illinois.  Attending  these  larger  movements  there 
were  formed  also  the  faults  and  minor  folds  that  affect  the  Pennsylvanian 
rocks  in  different  parts  of  the  State.  These  movements  permanently  ban- 
ished the  sea  from  the  region. 

The  rocks  of  the  Edgington  and  Milan  quadrangles  were  not  greatly 
disturbed  by  these  deformations,  no  faults  having  been  found  in  the  area, 
and  the  tilting  and  slight  flexing  of  the  strata  that  occurred  at  that  time 
are  so  gentle  that  they  are  scarcely  distinguishable  from  original  irregularies 
of  deposition.  The  general  altitude  of  the  surface  was  probably  considerably 
increased,  the  region  being  elevated  from  near  sea  level  to  a  position  a  few 
hundred  feet  above  it. 

Mesozoic  Era 

After  the  elevation  and  deformation  that  occurred  near  the  close  of  the 
Pennsylvanian  period,  the  areas  that  had  received  deposits  of  sediment  at 
different  times  during  the  Paleozoic  era  were  subjected  for  a  very  long  time 
to  continuous  denudation.  Erosion  has  progressed  almost  without  inter- 
ruption from  that  time  to  the  present,  although  at  different  times  it  has 
been  accelerated  by  slight  uplifts,  and  at  others  it  was  probably  retarded  by 
a  more  or  less  close  approach  to  peneplanation. 

Cenozoic  Era 
tertiary  period 

Some  time  before  the  close  of  the  Tertiary  period  the  surface  of  the 
greater  part  of  Illinois  and  adjacent  regions  had  been  reduced  to  a  nearly 
level  plain,  as  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  surface  beneath  the  Quaternary 
deposits  is  quite  level  except  where  narrow  valleys  were  cut  in  late  Tertiary 
and  early  Quaternary  time. 

Near  the  end  of  the  Tertiary  period  there  occurred  a  general  uplift  of 
the  land  which  quickened  erosion  and  caused  the  streams  to  deepen  their 
valleys.  Well  borings  show  that  many  such  rock  valleys  100  to  200  feet 
deep,  now  filled  with  drift,  occur  in  Illinois,  and  a  few  such  buried  valleys 
have  been  found  in  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles.  The  valley  of 
Mississippi  River,  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle, 
was  cut  at  least  120  feet  below  the  level  of  the  present  flood  plain,  and  the 
valley  of  Copperas  Creek,  in  the  NE.  %  sec.  16,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4W.,  was 
about  65  feet  below  its  present  level. 

The  maximum  relief  of  the  preglacial  surface  was  at  least  234  feet, 
but  except  in  the  deepest  valleys  it  did  not  exceed  80  or  90  feet. 

QUATERNARY  PERIOD 
PLEISTOCENE    EPOCH 

At  the  beginning  of  the  Quaternary  period,  the  surface  of  the  Milan 
and  Edgington  quadrangles  was  much  like  the  present   surface,  but  dif- 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      GEOLOGIC    HISTORY  lg9 

ferent  from  it  in  one  important  particular.  The  topographic  features  of 
that  time  had  been  developed  solely  by  erosion,  whereas  those  of  the  present 
surface  were  in  part  produced  by  deposition  of  drift,  and  in  part  by  the 
subsequent  erosion  of  these  deposits  by  the  present  streams. 

Kansan  time. — Relatively  early  in  the  Pleistocene  epoch,  during  the 
Kansan  stage  of  glaciation,  an  ice  sheet  developed  at  the  north  and  spread 
broadly  over  the  upper  Mississippi  basin,  invading  western  Illinois  from 
the  Iowa  side.  After  a  long  period  of  glacial  occupation  the  ice  melted  away, 
leaving  a  thick  mantle  of  clay,  sand,  pebbles,  and  boulders  over  the  area  it 
had  covered. 

Yarmouth  time. — A  change  of  climate  from  some  cause  or  causes 
resulted  in  the  melting  of  the  Kansan  ice  sheet,  which  was  followed  by  a 
long  interval  during  which  the  climate  did  not  greatly  differ  from  that  pre- 
vailing in  the  region  today.  During  this  interglacial  stage,  known  as  the 
Yarmouth,  the  surface  of  the  Kansan  till  was  covered  with  vegetation,  and 
after  a  long  time  a  soil  was  developed  in  the  upper  part  of  the  till,  and  the 
glacial  deposits  suffered  considerable  alteration  and  erosion. 

Illinoian  time. — The  next  event  of  importance  was  the  advance  over  the 
region  of  the  Illinoian  ice  sheet  which  came  from  the  northeast,  centering 
in  Labrador.  As  it  moved  forward  it  gathered  up  much  of  the  material  left 
by  the  Kansan  ice  sheet  and  mixed  it  with  other  debris  brought  from  the 
north.  In  some  places,  however,  it  overrode  without  greatly  disturbing  the 
older  drift,  or  even  the  soil  which  had  developed  upon  it,  but  buried  it  just 
as  it  was.  When  the  Illinoian  glacier  melted  it  left  over  the  surface  a  thick 
bed  of  till  which  completely  buried  the  hills  and  valleys  developed  by  the 
streams  during  Yarmouth  time,  leaving  the  surface  more  nearly  level  than 
before. 

Sangamon  time. — Upon  the  surface  of  the  nearly  level  drift  plain  left 
by  the  Illinoian  glacier,  new  drainage  lines  were  gradually  developed,  and 
over  the  more  level  areas  the  organic  matter  from  successive  generations  of 
plants  accumulated  to  such  an  extent  as  to  form  a  carbonaceous  soil  (the 
Sangamon  soil)  which  was  in  places  peaty  and  contained  large  amounts  of 
undecomposed  plant  remains.  Percolating  ground  water  leached  and  other- 
wise weathered  the  upper  few  feet  of  the  underlying  till.  On  the  slopes 
where  erosion  was  active,  organic  matter  was  not  allowed  to  accumulate, 
but  there  was  developed  in  places  a  thin  bed  of  gravel  which  was  con- 
centrated at  the  surface  by  the  removal  by  sheet  wash  and  erosion  of  the 
fine  constituents  of  the  till. 

Iowan  and  Peorian  time. — The  invasion  of  the  Iowan  glacier  was  not 
recorded  by  deposits  of  till  in  this  immediate  area.  However,  after  the  devel- 
opment of  the  present  stream  channels  and  the  weathering  of  the  upper 
portion  of  the  till  were  well  advanced,  conditions  arose  in  late  Iowan  and 
early  PeOrian  time  which  favored  the  accumulation  of  extensive  deposits 


190  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

of  dust.  This  dust  or  loess  was  spread  over  the  surface  of  the  Illinoian 
drift  sheet,  covering  the  Sangamon  soil  and  peat,  the  concentrated  gravels, 
and  over  the  leached  and  eroded  surface  of  the  Illinoian  till  where  the  soil, 
peat,  and  gravel  were  absent.  Later,  dust  transportation  diminished,  and 
the  erosive  processes  again  became  dominant.  The  carving  of  valleys  con- 
tinued without  interruption  until  the  Wisconsin  time,  when  they  had  reached 
almost  their  present  forms. 

Wisconsin  time. — After  the  close  of  the  Peorian  interglacial  time,  ice 
of  the  Wisconsin  stage  invaded  northern  and  eastern  Illinois  and  spread 
westward  to  a  position  within  50  miles  of  the  area  under  discussion.  The 
headwaters  of  Rock  River  and  of  other  tributaries  of  the  Mississippi  in  this 
region  were  covered  by  the  Wisconsin  ice  sheet.  The  water  liberated  from 
the  melting  ice  and  loaded  with  glacial  debris,  followed  these  stream  valleys 
westward  from  the  ice  sheet,  depositing  in  their  channels,  and  along  the 
Mississippi  into  which  they  discharged,  large  quantities  of  sand  and  gravel. 
After  the  Wisconsin  glacier  melted  from  the  region,  the  streams,  in  adjusting 
their  channels  to  the  reduced  volume  and  load,  cut  down  into  the  coarse 
materials  they  had  recently  deposited,  and  developed  flood  plains  at  lower 
levels.  The  greater  part  of  this  old  filling  has  been  removed,  but  in  a  few 
places  patches  of  this  material  have  escaped  erosion  and  stand  several  feet 
above  the  level  of  the  present  flood  plains  as  remnants  of  terraces,  which 
indicate  the  height  to  which  the  stream  valleys  had  been  filled. 

RECENT    EPOCH 

In  the  Recent  epoch  the  altitude  of  this  region  is  not  known  to  have 
changed  in  any  important  way.  The  principal  event  has  been  the  removal 
of  a  part  of  the  material  deposited  during  the  Pleistocene  epoch.  During 
this  time  the  streams  have  been  widening  their  valleys  and  forming  broader 
flood  plains. 

MINERAL  RESOURCES 

The  principal  mineral  resources  of  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles 
comprise  coal,  shale  and  clay,  limestone,  sand  and  gravel,  and  water.  To 
these  may  be  added  the  soil  which  is  the  chief  source  of  wealth  in  the  area. 

Coal 
The  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  lie  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  eastern  interior  coal  basin  (fig.  13),  and  in  the  part  of  this  basin  where 
the  Rock  Island  and  Herrin  coals,  exist  only  in  patches. 

COALS   OTHER  THAN   THE  ROCK   ISLAND  AND   HERRIN   BEDS 

In  many  places  two  or  more  coal  beds  besides  the  Rock  Island  and 
Herrin  coals  are  known  to  be  present  in  this  area.  These  coals  are  thin, 
usually  ranging  from  a  few  to  18  inches  thick,  and  in  only  a  few  places  is 
the  thickness  of  one  or  more  of  them  known  to  reach  24  to  30  inches.  The 
distribution  of  these  coals  is  as  irregular  as  their  thickness,  some  of  them 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      MINERAL    RESOURCES  191 

being  absent  and  others  present  in  different  outcrops  and  test  borings  less 
than  one  mile  distant  from  each  other. 

One  of  the  thicker  of  these  coals  occurs  near  the  base  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian,  but  it  is  not  persistent  at  this  horizon.  In  the  abandoned  clay  pit  of 
the  National  Clay  Company,  at  Sears,  a  coal  2  feet  thick  occurs  about  5  feet 
above  the  Devonian  limestone.  In  the  log  of  a  test  boring  in  the  SE.  cor. 
SW.  %  SE.  %  sec.  28,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.,  a  coal  bed  19  inches  thick  is 
reported  17  feet  above  the  Devonian  limestone  at  an  elevation  of  569  feet, 
and  another  boring  one-half  mile  farther  northwest  found  a  coal  29  inches 
thick  12  feet  above  the  top  of  the  Devonian,  at  an  altitude  of  550  feet.  In 
a  boring  one-half  mile  east  of  the  one  last  mentioned  a  coal  21  inches  thick 
was  found  35  feet  above  the  Devonian  limestone  at  an  elevation  of  510  feet. 
Another  coal,  reported  38  inches  thick,  occurs  14  feet  higher,  at  an  altitude 
of  524  feet.  In  another  boring  one-half  mile  south  of  the  last,  a  coal  18  inches 
thick  was  reported  17  feet  above  the  Devonian  at  an  altitude  of  490  feet; 
another  coal,  8  inches  thick,  occurs  about  61  feet  higher,  and  a  third  bed 
25  inches  thick,  is  reported  50  feet  still  higher,  at  an  elevation  of  603  feet. 

The  following  data  on  the  coals  penetrated  in  four  test  borings  around 
the  border  of  a  single  quarter  section  of  land  will  illustrate  the  very  variable 
distribution  and  thickness  of  these  coals : 

In  the  log  of  a  boring  on  the  NW.  cor  NW.  %  SE.  14  sec.  28,  T.  16  N., 
R.  4  W.,  a  coal  29  inches  thick  was  reported  about  14  feet  above  the  Devonian 
limestone  at  an  altitude  of  549  feet;  another  coal  26  inches  thick  was  found 
at  an  elevation  of  645  feet;  another  11-inch  bed  occurred  at  an  altitude  of 
655  feet;  and  another  8-inch  coal  was  present  at  679  feet.  Another  boring 
one-half  mile  east  and  one-fourth  mile  south  of  the  last,  passed  through  a 
coal  21  inches  thick,  lying  35  feet  above  the  Devonian,  at  an  altitude  of  509 
feet;  another  bed  38  inches  thick  at  526  feet  altitude;  a  4-inch  coal  at  542 
feet  altitude;  a  20-inch  bed  at  634  feet  altitude;  and  a  6-inch  coal  at  an 
elevation  of  650  feet  above  sea  level.  A  boring  one-fourth  mile  south  of  the 
last  passed  through  18  inches  of  impure  coal  17  feet  above  the  Devonian, 
at  an  elevation  of  489  feet ;  an  8-inch  bed  at  550  feet  altitude ;  a  25-inch  coal 
at  an  elevation  of  603  feet;  a  6-inch  coal  at  622  feet  altitude;  and  a  5-inch 
coal  at  647  feet  elevation.  A  fourth  boring  one-fourth  mile  west  of  the 
last  found  19  inches  of  coal  above  the  Devonian,  at  an  elevation  of  569  feet, 
and  an  8-inch  coal  at  an  elevation  of  650  feet. 

These  variations  are  shown  in  the  accompanying  columnar  sections 
(fig.  32). 

As  indicated  above,  it  is  not  probable  that  any  of  these  thin  coals  are 
peristent  over  very  large  areas,  and  the  thicker  beds  appear  to  be  somewhat 
more  restricted  in  distribution  than  the  thinner  ones.  In  a  few  places  near, 
or  at,  their  outcrop  in  the  banks  of  the  tributaries  south  of  Mississippi  River, 
one  or  another  of  these  coals  has  been  worked  on  a  small  scale,  by  drifts 


192 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


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m 


Ml 


TTTP 


LLLLL 


w 


50 
c2 

d.5 


d  to 
>  c 

si 

C     ■ 

q  p, 


fl  3 

as 

<o 

,2  c* 

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VJ 

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CM 


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MM 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      MINERAL    RESOURCES  193 

or  strippings,  for  local  use.  Such  old  workings  are  most  common  along  some 
of  the  streams  between  Illinois  City  and  Andalusia  where  the  different  coals 
thicken  and  thin  within  short  distances.  They  reach  thicknesses  of  18  to  28 
inches  in  the  places  where  they  have  been  worked,  and  the  range  of  ele- 
vation of  the  various  beds  locally  mined  in  this  part  of  the  area  ranges 
from  575  to  714  feet.  On  account  of  the  irregularities  in  the  thickness 
and  extent  of  these  coals  it  seems  improbable  that  they  will  ever  become  of 
more  than  local  interest  and  importance. 

ROCK    ISLAND     ( NO.     1)      (?)     AND    HERRIN     (NO.    6)     COALS    IN     THE     MILAN 

QUADRANGLE 

The  Herrin  (No.  6)  bed  is  the  only  coal  that  has  been  worked  on  a 
commercial  scale  in  the  quadrangle.  This  bed  is  known  to  be  present 
over  the  greater  part  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  Milan  quadrangle,  to 
which  area  its  commercial  exploitation  has  been  limited.  Logs  of  borings 
in  sec.  32,  T.  17  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and  in  sec.  5,  T.  16  N.,  R.  1  W.,  indicate 
that  over  a  small  area  one  of  these  coals  may  be  present  in  that  part  of 
the  quadrangle,  from  which  it  probably  extends  east  towards  Coal  Valley, 
where  outcrops  are  known  to  occur.  In  these  areas  the  Herrin  (No.  6) 
coal  is  usually  overlain  by  a  dark,  impure,  in  places  siliceous  lime- 
stone known  to  the  drillers  as  "blue  rock,"  which  is  easily  recognized  in 
borings  or  outcrops.  A  small  drift  formerly  worked  in  sec.  32,  T.  17  N., 
R.  3  W.,  shows  an  unusual  thickness  of  very  impure  coal,  24  to  42  inches, 
overlain  by  a  thin-bedded  sandstone,  at  an  altitude  of  642  feet.  This  coal 
may  possibly  represent  the  Rock  Island  bed,  but  there  is  no  way  of  certainly 
determining  that  it  does.  A  coal  was  formerly  drifted  on  in  the  bank  of 
the  creek  in  the  NE.  %  sec.  2,  T.  16  N.,  R.  3  W.,  at  an  altitude  of  660 
feet.  On  the  old  dump  at  this  locality  were  found  septaria  with  cone-in-cone 
structure,  and  containing  shells  of  a  small  Productus  and  other  brachiopods, 
which  may  represent  the  dark  limestone  that  normally  overlies  the  Herrin 
(No.  6)  coal.  However,  it  is  certain  that  the  horizon  of  numerous  large 
septarian  concretions  with  cone-in-cone  structure,  so  well  developed  along 
Coal  Creek  and  other  streams  farther  west,  belongs  to  a  level  approximately 
30  feet  lower  than  that  of  the  Herrin  coal  bed.  North  of  Mississippi 
River  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Milan  quadrangle,  these  coals  have  been, 
recognized  in  a  few  places  in  sees.  9,  11,  and  15,  T.  77  N.,  R.  2  E. 

It  is  thought  that  the  coal  is  absent  over  the  larger  part  of  the  Milan 
quadrangle  south  of  Mississippi  River,  outside  of  the  area  above  mentioned. 
It  may  have  originally  been  deposited  over  a  greater  or  less  part  of  this 
area  in  which  it  is  now  absent,  having  been  removed  by  pre-Pleistocene 
erosion.  Preglacial  erosion  was  strong  in  parts  of  the  quadrangle,  as  is 
shown  in  the  fact  that  all  of  the  Pennsylvanian  strata  were  removed  in  places 


194  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

near  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers,  and  Mill  Creek  where  the  Devonian  lime- 
stone lies  immediately  beneath  the  drift.  Records  of  water  wells  in  parts 
of  sec.  9,  T.  16  N.,  R.  2  W.,  also  show  that  in  those  localities  all  of  the 
Pennsylvanian  rocks  were  removed  before  the  glacial  drift  was  deposited. 
It  seems  probable,  however,  that  the  Rock  Island  coal  was  never  present 
over  parts  of  this  area  since  Pennsylvanian  outcrops  and  well  records  are 
known  up  to  altitudes  higher  than  that  of  the  Rock  Island  coal  bed  farther 
east,  north,  or  south  in  which  neither  this  coal  nor  the  dark  limestone  that 
usually  overlies  it  are  present. 

ROCK  ISLAND    (NO.    1)    AND   HERRIN    ( NO.  6)    COALS   IN  THE 
EDGINGTON  QUADRANGLE 

The  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  outcrops  in  several  places  along  Camp 
Creek  and  Little  Camp  Creek,  and  probably  underlies  the  larger  part  of  the 
south  half  of  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle.  It  may 
also  extend  to  a  greater  or  less  distance  eastward  into  the  Milan  quadrangle. 
The  Herrin  coal  bed  is  thought  to  be  absent  over  almost  all  of  the  other 
parts  of  the  Edgington  quadrangle  south  of  Mississippi  River.  It  outcrops 
in  a  few  places  in  sec.  30,  T.  17  N.,  R.  3  W.,  and  one  or  two  small  outcrops 
of  dark,  impure  limestone  belonging  to  a  horizon  immediately  above  the 
No.  1  or  No.  6  coal  occur  in  the  south  bank  of  Copperas  Creek,  in  sees.  21 
and  22,  T.  16  N.,  R.  4  W.  This  limestone  was  underlain  by  a  thin  coal, 
possibly  the  Herrin  bed,  which  lies  at  an  altitude  of  about  654  feet  above 
sea  level.  Both  the  coal  and  the  limestone  occur  at  this  locality  only  in 
small  patches,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  logs  of  test  borings  made  in  these 
sections,  and  in  sees.  27  and  28,  adjacent  on  the  south,  show  no  trace  of  the 
dark  limestone  or  the  Herrin  coal.  North  of  Mississippi  River  this 
coal  and  the  overlying  dark  limestone  outcrop  in  the  SE.  14  sec-  20,  T.  17  N., 
R.  1  E.,  and  in  a  few  other  places  in  the  Iowa  part  of  the  Edgington  quad- 
rangle. The  Herrin  coal  is  known  in  outcrops  and  test  borings  in  too 
few  places  to  justify  plotting  the  rock  structure  of  the  quadrangles  on  the 
stratum.  The  altitude  of  this  coal  in  the  places  where  it  is  known  is  shown 
by  figures  on  the  map,  Plate  II. 

As  in  the  Milan  quadrangle,  the  Herrin  coal  probably  accumulated  over 
a  larger  area  than  that  which  it  underlies  at  present.  From  such  areas  a  part 
of  it  may  have  been  removed  during  the  long  post- Potts ville-pre- Pleistocene 
interval  of  erosion,  during  which  in  places  all  of  the  Pennsylvanian 
strata  were  denuded,  as  in  the  SE.  ^4  sec-  33,  T.  15  N.,  R.  5  W.,  and  in 
several  places  in  the  northern  part  of  the  quadrangle,  where  the  Quaternary 
strata  rest  on  Devonian  limestone.  It  is  not  at  all  improbable  also  that 
coal  never  accumulated  over  a  large  part  of  the  area  in  whieh  it  is  now 
absent  in  the  quadrangle,  or,  if  it  did,  it  was  removed  by  contemporaneous 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      MINERAL    RESOURCES  195 

erosion  indicated  by  more  or  less  local  intra-Pennsylvanian  unconformities. 
There  is  little  doubt  that  the  Herrin  coal  occurs  in  many  places 
where  it  is  not  now  known,  for  a  considerable  part  of  the  area  of  the  quad- 
rangles has  not  been  thoroughly  tested.  This  coal  probably  underlies  con- 
siderable parts  of  Perryton  and  Preemption  townships,  between  the  areas  in 
which  it  is  known  in  the  southeast  part  of  Edgington  and  that  on  the  south- 
east part  of  the  Milan  quadrangle.  It  is  probably  absent  over  Eliza  and 
Drury  townships,  and  a  sufficient  number  of  test  borings  and  sections  of 
outcrop  are  known  in  Buffalo  Prairie  Township  to  show  that  the  coal  is 
there  present  in  only  a  few  small  patches.  In  Edgington,  Bowling,  the 
north  half  of  Rural,  and  the  greater  part  of  Black  Hawk  and  Andalusia 
townships,  the  Pleistocene  deposits  are  deep,  and  doubtless  cover  preglacial 
lowlands  where  all  but  isolated  remnants  of  this  coal  were  eroded  away 
before  the  drift  was  deposited.  If  such  remnants  are  found  in  these  town- 
ships, they  will  probably  have  a  poor  cover,  and  prove  of  little  value  on 
account  of  difficult  mining  conditions. 

CHARACTER  OF  THE  HERRIN    (NO.  6)    COAL 

In  the  mines  where  the  Herrin  coal  bed  has  been  worked,  the 
thickness  varies  from  2^2  to  nearly  5  feet.  It  is  a  black,  and  rather  soft 
coal,  having  a  dark-brown  streak.  Where  it  is  normally  developed  it  is  in  a 
single  bed  which  contains  a  parting  with  some  impurities  a  short  distance 
below  the  middle  part.  The  details  of  this  coal  and  associated  strata  at 
different  localities  where  the  bed  could  be  well  studied  are  shown  below : 

Section  of  Herrin  coal  in  mine  No.  3  of  Coal  Valley  Mining  Company 

at  Matherville 

Thickness 

Feet 

Limestone,    dark    7+ 

Shale,  black,  fissile,  fossilif erous 14 

Coal,  with  much  mineral  charcoal  in  thin  bands,  and  showing  indistinct 
impressions  of  leaves  and  other  parts  of  plants.  Sulphur  occurs  dissemi- 
nated in  chunks  or  small  particles  in  the  lower  part  of  the  coal,  and  in 
thin  leaf -like  layers  in  the  upper ZV2  to  5 

Section  of  Herrin  bed  in  mine  No.  7  of  the 

Alden  Coal  Company,  at  Matherville 

Thickness 

Ft.    In. 

Limestone,    dark    7+   . . 

Shale,   dark    3  2 

f upper   bench    1  4 

CoaU  middle  bench    10 

flower  bench,  with  a  little  marcasite  near  the  top 2  6 

Shale,  with  marcasite  and  imprints  of  stigmaria 1 

Underclay     3  6 


196 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Section  of  the  Herrin  coal  in  the  mine  of 
Dougherty  Bros.,  near  Boden 

Thickness 
Ft.    In. 

LiMestone,    dark    14 

Shale,  black,  fissile  2 

Coal   ., 2       10 

Shale,  or  bony  coal,  brown,  containing  marcasite 2 

Underclay,  gray   2~\-   . . 

MINES  AND   MINING  METHODS 

All  of  the  commercial  coal  mines  operated  in  this  area  are  in  the  south- 
east quarter  of  the  Milan  quadrangle.  Three  commercial  mines  are  in  oper- 
ation in  this  quadrangle,  and  another  was  opened  in  1917  about  one-fourth 
mile  south  of  the  border  of  the  quadrangle,  along  the  Rock  Island  Southern 
Railroad.  Besides  these  shipping  mines,  several  local  mines  are  worked 
during  the  autumn  and  winter  months  to  supply  local  trade.  The  most  of 
the  mining  is  done  on  the  room-and-pillar  method.  The  haulage  is  by 
mule-tail  rope  or  electric  or  gasoline  motors.  The  roof  conditions  are  good, 
and  the  flow  causes  little  trouble.  Below  is  given  a  list  of  the  shipping 
mines,  the  average  thickness  of  the  coal  in  these  mines,  the  depth  to  the 
bottom  of  the  Herrin  coal  bed,  and  the  altitude  of  the  base  of  the  coal  in 
each  mine. 


Table  36. — Shipping  mines  in  the  Milan  an 

I  Edgington 

quadrangles  1920 

Name 

Depth 
to  bottom 

of 
Herrin  coal 

Thickness 

oi 

Herrin 

coal  bed 

Altitude 
of  base 
of 
Herrin  coal 

Alden  Coal  Co.,  mine  No.  7 

Coal  Valley  Mining  Co.,  mine  No.  3 

McCraney  Sand  and  Gravel  Co 

Feet 
92 
69 
56 

Inches 

34-54 

36-60 

46 

Feet 
598 
624 
654 

Besides  the  shipping  mines  listed  above,  about  10  local  mines  in  the 
quadrangles  are  worked  during  a  few  months  of  each  year. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      MINERAL    RESOURCES 


197 


CHEMICAL   ANALYSES 

Samples  of  coal  were  collected  from  several  of  the  mines  in  the  area  and 
the  results  of  analysis  are  shown  in  Table  2.  The  analyses  for  which  "C" 
numbers  are  given  in  the  second  column  of  the  table,  are  republished  from 
Illinois  Mining  Investigations  Bulletin  3. 


Table  37. — Analyses  of  mine  samples  from  the  Edgington  and  Milan  quadrangles 
Not  exactly  indicative  of  commercial  output 


Proximate    analysis    of    coal 

1st:     "As    reed,"     with    total 

-a 

moisture. 

CD 

2nd:   "Dry"   or  moisture  free. 

3 

CD 

03 
O 

o 

CD 
3 

CO 

'3 

CD    u 
"    a, 

■Si 

>  s 

_  a 

13  o 

cc 

<5 

3 

02 

O 

5338 

C19 

0227a 

5339 

C19 
0227a 

5340 

C19 
0227a 

5363 

C19 
0227a 

5364 

C19 
0227a 

5365 

C19 
0227a 

5359 

C18 
0227 

5360 

C18 
0227 

5361 

C18 
0227 

5371 

C17 
0104 

5372 

C17 
0104 

2775 

0528 

1758 

0536 

8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
8/12 
11/09 
8/08 


Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer.  .  .  . 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Mercer 

Rock  Island 
Rock  Island 


6 

13.23 
Dry 

40.29 
46.43 

37.20 
42.88 

9.28 
10.69 

4.37 
5.04 

.41 

.47 

6 

15.24 
Dry 

37.66 
44.44 

35 .  73 
42.15 

11.37 
13.41 

4.80 
5.66 

1.47 
1.73 

6 

15.15 
Dry 

39.06 
44.44 

38.48 
42.15 

7.31 
14.41 

3.30 
5.66 

.17 
1.73 

6 

14.97 
Dry 

38.27 
46.03 

37.07 
45.36 

9.69 
8.61 

3.75 
3.89 

.33 
.19 

6 

14.46 
Dry 

40.42 
44.99 

35.33 
43.61 

9.79 
11.40 

4.23 
4.95 

.69 
.43 

6 

14.07 
Dry 

39.95 
47.24 

34.01 
41.32 

11.97 
11.44 

4.55 
4.94 

.78 
.59 

6 

14 .  58 
Dry 

39.49 
46.49 

36.82 
39.59 

9.11 
13.92 

5.60 
5.29 

.15 
.91 

6 

15.07 
Dry 

38.14 
46.23 

37.44 
43.09 

9.35 
10.68 

4.85 
6.56 

.34 

.18 

6 

14.10 
Dry 

39.60 
44.91 

36.73 
44.01 

9.57 
11.02 

3.92 

5.71 

.23 

.38 

1? 

17.75 
Dry 

39.50 
48.03 

34.61 

42.08 

8.14 
9.89 

5.53 
6.72 

.86 
1.05 

1? 

17.50 
Dry 

38.78 
47.00 

33.66 
40.80 

10.06 
12.20 

4.51 
5.46 

.29 
.35 

17.30 
Dry 

38.25 
46.25 

36.25 

43.82 

8.17 
9.87 

5.10 
6.16 

15.36 
Dry 

35.64 
42.05 

37 .  03 
43.70 

12.07 
14.25 

6.45 
7.61 

11104 
12797 


10353 
12214 


11252 
12214 


9637 
13260 


10780 
12749 


10525 
12603 


10894 
12247 


10790 
12754 


10956 
12705 


10435 

12687 


10238 
12409 


10578 
12791 


10178 
12010 


14641 
H478 
14478 
14760 
H712 
14551 
14604 
14642 
146i8 
M373 
14372 
i4533 
U673 


*Analyses  having  the  same  file  number  are  from  the  same  mine. 

Shale  and  Clay 
Shale,  loess,  and  alluvial  clay  have  been  used  in  this  region  in  the  manu- 
facture of  clay  products.  Of  the  shale,  two  beds  have  been  used.  The  lower 
one  lying  near  the  base  of  the  Pottsville  was  worked  a  few  years  ago  by 
the  Black  Hawk  Clay  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Sears,  in  making  the 
better  grades  of  pressed  brick  and  building  brick.  A  thickness  of  about  24 
feet  of  shale  was  dug  and  mixed  with  a  considerable  percentage  of  the 
overlying  loess  as  the  raw  material. 


198  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

In  the  vicinity  of  Illinois  City  a  bed  of  white  shale  5  to  7  feet  thick 
was  formerly  worked  for  white  pottery,  and  used  by  four  plants  near  Illinois 
City  in  the  manufacture  of  jugs,  crocks,  and  jars.  Considerable  quantities 
of  this  shale  were  also  hauled  to  Fairport,  and  used  in  the  manufacture  of 
similar  products.  This  bed  of  white  clay  lies  about  35  feet  above  the  upper 
zone  of  thin  clay-iron  stone  concretions  at  an  altitude  of  about  695  feet. 
It  appears  to  be  of  limited  distribution,  this  white  phase  especially  not  having 
been  recognized  outside  of  a  small  area,  less  than  one  square  mile  in  extent, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Illinois  City.  This  shale  has  not  been  utilized  for  a  number 
of  years. 

The  Davenport  Brick  and  Tile  Company  operates  an  up-to-date  clay 
plant  at  Buffalo,  Iowa,  across  the  river  from  Andalusia.  Shale  from  the 
basal  part  of  the  Pottsville  mixed  with  the  overlying  loess  is  the  material 
from  which  hollow  building  block,  sidewalk  brick,  paving  brick,  building 
brick,  sewer  pipe,  and  drain  tile  are  manufactured. 

For  several  years  Mr.  Hans  Paulson  has  operated  a  brick  yard  on 
Twelfth  Street  road  in  South  Rock  Island.  The  more  common  grades  of 
building  brick  are  made  from  the  surficial  clays,  about  34  per  cent  of  loess 
being  used  in  the  mix  with  about  66  per  cent  of  the  underlying  blue  clay, 
a  vertical  face  of  26  feet  being  dug. 

A  few  years  ago  Olaf  Atkinson  and  Mr.  Richmond  in  Rock  Island,  and 
August  Raistens  in  Moline,  operated  plants  for  the  manufacture  of  the  more 
common  building  brick,  using  surficial  clays  as  the  raw  material.  In  recent 
years  work  in  these  plants  has  been  discontinued. 

Limestone 

The  only  limestone  of  commercial  importance  that  outcrops  in  the 
quadrangles  is  of  Devonian  age,  and  is  exposed  along  the  rivers  in  the 
north  part  of  the  area. 

The  Moline  Stone  Company  formerly  operated  a  large  quarry  in  the 
limestone  from  the  lower  part  of  the  Devonian,  in  Moline.  The  stone  was 
crushed,  and  large  quantities  sent  to  the  Rock  County  Sugar  Company  at 
Janesville,  Wisconsin,  for  use  in  refining  sugar.  Considerable  quantities  of 
crushed  stone  were  also  shipped  to  various  places  within  a  radius  of  100 
miles,  for  use  in  concrete  and  road  building. 

The  Cady  quarry  and  Swan  Tropp  quarry  in  Moline  have  taken  out  a 
large  amount  of  Devonian  limestone  for  use  in  the  city  and  adjacent  ter- 
ritory. 

In  the  bank  of  the  river  at  Sears  considerable  limestone  has  been  quar- 
ried for  Government  use  in  connection  with  the  canal  and  locks,  and  other 
improvements  in  that  vicinity.  Limestone  has  also  been  quarried  in  the 
bank  of  the  river  south  of  Sylvan  Island,  and  near  the  east  end  of  Rock 
Island,  for  Government  use. 


EDGINGTON-MILAN    AREA:      LIMESTONE  199 

Large  quantities  of  limestone  are  quarried  by  the  Linwood  Quarry 
Company  at  Linwood  and  the  Dorese  Brothers  Crushed  Stone  Works  at 
Buffalo.  The  larger  part  of  this  stone  is  sold  for  riprap,  or  crushed  for 
concrete  and  other  purposes.  It  finds  market  in  many  places  between  Rock 
Island  and  Kansas  City. 

Sand  and  Gravel 

Sand  suitable  for  plaster  and  cement  is  abundant  in  many  places  along 
Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers,  and  along  the  channels  of  several  of  the  larger 
creeks  in  the  quadrangles.  Large  quantities  of  both  sand  and  gravel  have 
been  taken  from  a  large  pit  worked  by  the  Rock  Island  Southern  Railroad 
Company  on  the  flood  plain  of  Mississippi  River  near  the  SE.  cor.  sec.  21, 
and  the  SW.  cor.  sec.  22,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.  A  vertical  face  12  to  14  feet 
high  has  been  worked  in  this  pit  for  a  distance  of  about  20  or  more  rods. 
The  material  consists  mostly  of  small  gravel  mixed  with  coarse  sand.  This 
is  an  important  source  of  gravel  which  is  sorted  from  the  sand  by  screen- 
ing. Large  amounts  of  sand  are  hauled  from  the  channels  of  Rock  Creek 
and  Mississippi  River  for  use  in  plaster  and  concrete  in  Rock  Island  and 
Moline. 

Portland  Cement  Material 

The  chief  raw  materials  required  for  the  manufacture  of  Portland 
cement  are  limestone  and  clay  or  shale.  The  limestone  should  be  rela- 
tively free  from  such  undesirable  impurities  as  dolomite,  chert,  and  pyrite. 
The  clay  or  shale  should  not  contain  much  sand,  pyrite,  or  gypsum. 

Limestone  in  sufficient  quantities  and  apparently  of  requisite  purity  is 
available,  convenient  to  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  and  Pacific  Railroad,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Sears  and  Milan,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  Milan  quad- 
rangle. This  limestone  is  of  Devonian  (upper  Wapsipinicon  and  lower 
Cedar  Valley)  age;  a  working  face  of  20  to  40  feet  could  be  in  places 
developed. 

Shale  of  Pennsylvanian  age  that  appears  to  be  suitable  for  Portland 
cement  material  is  exposed  in  the  old  clay  pit  of  the  Black  Hawk  Manu- 
facturing Company  only  a  short  distance  from  the  limestone  outcrops. 
While  tests  and  analyses  of  these  materials  should  be  made  before  their 
suitability  for  Portland  cement  manufacture  could  be  certainly  determined, 
yet  these  deposits  appear  promising  and  their  ready  accessibility  and  near- 
ness to  the  railroad  would  seem  to  warrant  an  investigation  of  this  locality 
on  the  part  of  anyone  looking  for  available  material  for  Portland  cement 
purposes. 

The  limestone  worked  in  the  old  Cady  quarry  in  East  Moline  also 
seems  to  be  relatively  pure  calcium  carbonate,  and  suitable  clay  or  shale 
could  doubtless  be  found  at  no  great  distance  away. 


200  year  book  for  1917  and  1918 

Possibilities  of  Oil  and  Gas 

No  definite  and  systematic  testing  for  oil  or  gas  has  been  done  in  this 
region.  The  churn-drill  coal  borings  serve  to  test  the  rocks  for  oil  and  gas 
to  the  depth  these  borings  penetrate  the  Pottsville  strata,  and  the  deep 
water  wells  in  the  area  furnish  information  regarding  the  presence  of  oil 
and  gas  in  strata  as  far  down  as  they  explore.  Owing  to  the  lack  of  any 
single,  easily  recognized  key  stratum  in  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks,  the  altitude 
of  which  could  be  determined  from  outcrops  in  borings  in  many  places  over 
the  entire  area,  it  has  not  been  possible  to  present  a  structure  map  of  the 
quadrangles  showing  the  lay  of  the  rocks  in  different  places,  and  the  areas 
where  small  domes  arches,  or  synclines  might  be  present.  A  few  small 
structural  features  are  known,  as  the  low  anticline  extending  in  a  north- 
west direction  from  near  the  center  of  sec.  25,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.,  prob- 
ably passing  through  Milan  and  across  Mississippi  River  near  Oakdale. 
This  arch  is  20  or  more  feet  in  height,  and  presents  somewhat  favorable 
oil  structure.  A  small  dome  appears  to  be  indicated  by  the  altitude  of 
the  Herrin  coal  bed  in  sec.  24,  Duncan  Township,  and  sec.  19  of 
Perryton.  What  the  eastward  extension  of  this  convex  structure  may  be 
can  not  be  determined  by  the  explorations  made  up  to  the  present  time. 

The  rise  of  the  Rock  Island  coal  from  Sherrard,  where  its  altitude 
is  about  612  feet  above  sea  level,  to  Cable,  where  its  elevation  reaches  654 
feet,  indicates  a  dome  or  anticlinal  structure  in  the  vicinity  of  Cable  of 
sufficient  magnitude  to  warrant  testing,  if  any  oil  tests  were  to  be  made  in 
this  vicinity. 

Another  small  dome  is  indicated  southwest  of  Matherville.  The  altitude 
of  the  Herrin  coal  at  Matherville  is  about  630  feet,  while  about  one  mile 
southwest  of  this  place  the  coal  rises  to  650  feet. 

However,  it  should  be  remembered  that  the  presence  of  oil  depends  on 
several  factors  besides  structure,  so  there  is  a  large  element  of  uncertainty 
regarding  the  presence  of  oil  even  where  the  structure  appears  favorable. 

gas  in  glacial  drift 

Small  quantities  of  gas  have  been  reported  from  a  few  water  wells  in 
the  quadrangles.  Gas  was  reported  in  a  well  about  one-fourth  mile  east 
of  the  center  sec.  35,  T.  17  N.,  R.  2  W.  In  another  in  the  NE.  %  sec. 
35,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  gas  was  found  in  a  bed  of  sand  or  sandy  clay  at 
a  depth  of  85  feet.  In  another  well  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  36  of  the  same 
township  gas  is  said  to  have  been  found  at  two  levels,  respectively  80  and 
119  feet  below  the  surface.  In  all  of  these  cases  the  gas  occurred  in  porous 
beds  of  sand  or  sandy  clay  enclosed  in  the  drift.  In  such  cases  the  gas 
was  doubtless  derived  from  the  decomposition  of  relatively  small  amounts 
of  organic  matter  that  was  buried  in  the  glacial  drift,  and  it  can  not  be 


EDG1NGTON-MILAN    AREA:      POSSIBILITIES    OF    OIL    AND    GAS  201 

expected  to  occur  in  such  quantity  as  to  be  commercially  important.  Such 
gas-bearing  beds  of  sand  or  gravel  enclosed  in  glacial  drift  have  no  neces- 
sary connection  with  oil  or  gas  accumulations  in  the  deeper  rock  strata, 
nor  does  the  presence  of  gas  in  the  glacial  drift  furnish  any  indication  of 
the  presence  of  oil  or  gas  in  the  deeper,  hard  rock  strata  of  the  region  in 
which  it  occurs. 

Soil 

Five  of  the  types  of  soil  differentiated  in  the  soil  survey  of  the  Illinois 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station  are  found  in  this  area.  These  are :  ( 1 ) 
black  clay  loam,  found  on  the  poorly  drained  prairies;  (2)  brown  silt  loam, 
found  on  the  undulating  uplands;  (3)  yellow  silt  loam,  found  on  the  hilly 
areas;  (4)  brown  loam  characteristic  of  the  flood  plains  or  bottom  lands; 
and  (5)  sand  soil,  found  in  places  along  the  flood  plains,  and  crowning  the 
hills  in  places  along  the  east  bank  of  Mississippi  River. 

Like  all  others,  these  soils  have  been  formed  by  geologic  processes,  to 
which  they  owe  to  a  considerable  extent  their  texture,  their  chemical  and 
physical  composition  and  their  fertility.  The  character  of  the  soil  at  any 
place  depends  on  the  character  of  the  rock  or  rocks  from  which  it  was 
derived  and  on  the  conditions  and  forces  to  which  it  has  been  subjected. 

In  the  Milan  and  Edgington  quadrangles  the  black  clay  loam  has  been 
formed  from  the  loess  under  conditions  of  poor  drainage  which  permitted 
the  residual,  imperfectly  decomposed  plant  debris  to  accumulate  in  the  soil. 
Probably  imperfect  drainage  and  humid  climate  are  the  chief  factors  con- 
cerned in  the  development  of  the  dark  color  of  this  soil. 

The  brown  silt  loam  has  been  developed  under  conditions  similar  to 
that  of  the  black  clay  loam,  except  that  erosion  was  a  little  more  active  in 
the  area  where  it  occurs,  which  gave  to  the  surface  a  little  better  drainage, 
and  prevented  the  accumulation  of  the  dark  carbonaceous  residual  plant 
material  to  an  equal  degree. 

The  yellow  silt  loam  was  formed  in  places  where  erosion  has  been  still 
more  effective  than  in  the  areas  of  brown  silt  loam,  and  where  the  dark, 
imperfectly  decomposed  plant  debris  is  removed  by  erosion  and  leaching  as 
rapidly  as  it  is  formed. 

The  brown  loam  soil  differs  in  origin  from  the  type  described  above 
in  that  it  receives  from  time  to  time  accessions  of  new  material.  It  lies  on 
the  flood  plain  within  reach  of  high  water,  so  that  a  thin  film  of  sediment 
is  deposited  more  or  less  uniformly  over  it  at  every  time  of  overflow.  The 
resulting  soil  is  usually  somewhat  sandy,  and  loose  textured. 

The  sand  soil  is  found  only  over  small  areas  of  flood  plains,  or  on  the 
hills  bordering  the  east  bank  of  Mississippi  River.  This  soil  is  granular, 
porous,  and  thin,  and  is  the  least  fertile  of  the  soil  types  in  the  area. 


202  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

Water  Resources 
shallow  wells  and  springs 
An  abundant  supply  of  excellent  water  for  domestic  use  can  be  ob- 
tained at  shallow  depths  throughout  this  area.  Rain  and  snow  water  is 
readily  absorbed  by  the  loess  and  percolates  downward  until  it  reaches  the 
underlying  comparatively  impervious  boulder  clay.  Much  of  it  accumulates 
at  the  top  of  this  clay,  though  near  the  borders  of  the  upland  a  part  moves 
laterally  until  it  reaches  the  surface  on  the  valley  sides,  where  it  issues  as 
springs.  A  part  percolates  down  into  the  boulder  clay,  commonly  reaching 
and  saturating  lenses  of  sand  which  are  in  many  places  enclosed  in  the  till. 

WELLS   IN   THE  GLACIAL  DRIFT 

Many  of  the  farm  wells  obtain  water  from  the  base  of  the  loess,  which 
until  recent  years  has  been  one  of  the  important  sources  of  water  in  the 
shallow  wells  on  the  uplands.  On  account  of  the  general  lowering  of  the 
ground-water  level  during  the  last  fifty  years,  this  source  of  water  supply 
has  been  gradually  weakened,  and  wells  have  more  and  more  been  drilled 
into  sands  lying  within  the  glacial  drift.  Many  wells  from  80  to  140  feet 
deep  obtain  their  water  from  sand  and  gravel  beneath  the  boulder  clays. 
Wells  of  this  kind  are  common  in  the  areas  of  deep  drift  in  Black  Hawk, 
Bowling,  Edgington,  Preemption,  Perryton,  Buffalo,  Prairie,  Drury,  Eliza, 
and  Duncan  townships.  Where  the  sand  or  gravel  bed  lying  within  or 
beneath  the  till  is  more  than  a  few  inches  thick,  it  yields  an  abundant  sup- 
ply of  water  for  farm  wells. 

WELLS    IN    HARD   ROCK 

Where  abundance  of  water  is  not  obtained  in  the  porous  beds  asso- 
ciated with  the  drift,  it  is  sometimes  found  in  the  Pottsville  sandstones, 
either  those  near  the  base  of  the  formation  or  those  occurring  at  higher 
levels.  Borings  into  the  Pottsville  are  often  put  down  to  the  top  of  the 
Devonian  limestone. 

The  sandstones  of  the  Pottsville  are  so  irregular  in  their  development 
and  distribution  that  in  some  places  well  drillers  have  been  obliged  to  drill 
a  distance  of  50  to  100  feet  into  the  Niagaran  limestone  before  obtaining 
a  strong  water  supply.  The  upper  part  of  the  Niagaran  limestone  is  usu- 
ally porous,  and  seldom  fails  to  furnish  a  generous  supply  of  water.  This 
water-bearing  horizon  is  found  about  475  feet  above  sea  level  in  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  area,  but  declines  to  about  325  feet  above  sea  level,  or 
lower,  in  the  south  part  of  the  quadrangles.  On  low  places  over  the  Mis- 
sissippi flood  plain  the  Niagaran  limestone  has  yielded  an  artesian  flow. 

The  shallowest  source  of  water  for  flowing  wells  in  this  region  is  the 
Galena  dolomite.  The  water  from  this  horizon  usually  has  a  strong  odor 
of  hydrogen  sulphide,  and  in  most  wells  that  have  penetrated  to  or  below 


EDGINGTON-MILAN     AREA:       WATER     RESOURCES  203 

this  horizon  the  water  has  been  cased  off  to  prevent  its  mingling  with  the 
water  from  deeper  sources.  The  only  well  known  to  be  supplied  from  this 
horizon  alone  is  the  deep  well  at  Linwood,  the  flow  from  which  is  known 
as  the  "sulphur  springs." 

The  St.  Peter  sandstone  is  the  most  reliable  source  of  good  deep-well 
water  in  the  quadrangles.  The  original  head  of  the  water  from  the  St. 
Peter  sandstone  in  the  quadrangles  was  about  645  feet  above  sea  level,  but 
in  recent  years  this  head  has  been  reduced  by  the  many  wells  that  have 
been  bored  into  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  in  the  cities  of  Rock  Island,  Mo- 
line,  and  Davenport,  so  that  at  present  it  does  not  much  exceed  580  feet. 
The  water  from  wells  tapping  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  will  probably  flow 
everywhere  in  the  flood  plains  of  the  Mississippi  and  Rock  rivers  in  this 
region.  The  supply  of  water  from  the  sandstone  is  abundant,  and  the 
quality  excellent,  as  shown  by  the  analyses  made  by  the  State  Water  Sur- 
vey, Table  38. 

The  St.  Peter  sandstone  is  the  main  source  of  water  supply  in  the 
Atlantic  Brewery  well,  in  Rock  Island,  in  the  paper  mill  well  in  Moline, 
and  in  the  city  well  in  Milan. 

The  deepest  artesian  water  supply  in  this  region  is  from  the  sandstones 
of  Upper  Cambrian  age.  The  head  of  this  water  is  higher  than  that  of 
the  St.  Peter  sandstone.  A  test  made  in  the  well  of  the  Rock  Island  Brew- 
ing Company  on  Elm  Street  in  Rock  Island,  in  1905,  showed  that  when  the 
well  was  cased  down  to  1,604  feet  the  water  rose  to  a  height  of  596  feet 
above  sea  level.  By  the  use  of  an  air-lift  this  well  has  yielded  450  gallons 
per  minute.  The  water  from  the  Cambrian  sandstone  in  the  Prospect  Park 
well  in  Moline  and  the  Mitchell  and  Lynde  well  in  Rock  Island  was  some- 
what more  salty  than  that  coming  from  the  St.  Peter  sandstone.  From  a 
well  said  to  be  2,000  feet  deep,  on  the  edge  of  the  flood  plain  of  the  north 
side  of  sec.  2,  T.  16  N.,  R.  5  W.,  water  flows  constantly  in  a  stream  nearly 
three  inches  in  diameter.  The  altitude  of  the  top  of  the  well  is  549  feet. 
This  water  is  also  strongly  mineralized  and  not  good  to  drink.  In  this 
region  the  head  of  the  water  from  the  Cambrian  sandstone  is  not  so  high 
now  as  it  was  when  the  first  wells  were  put  down  into  the  formation. 

Surface-water  Supplies 

The  supply  of  surface  water  in  this  area  is  abundant  for  all  ordinary 
purposes,  but  the  water  contains  so  much  sediment,  and  other  impurities  that 
filtering  is  necessary  before  it  is  safe  for  domestic  use.  Since  good  well 
water  is  easily  available  everywhere  in  the  region,  stream  water  has  not 
been  much  utilized  except  by  the  larger  cities,  which  require  large  amounts. 
The  city  of  Moline  obtains  its  water  supply  from  Mississippi  River,  the 
water  being  filtered  through  Jewell  filters,  lime,  and  iron  also  being  used 
in  the  treatment.     Sanitary  analyses  of  the  unfiltered  and  filtered  river  wa- 


204 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR    1917  AND   191i 


ter  from  which  the  Moline  city  supply  is  obtained  were  made  by  the  State 
Water  Survey.    The  results  are  shown  in  tables  39,  40,  and  41. 


Table  38. — Mineral  analyses  of  St.  Peter  sandstone  water  from  wells  in  the 
Milan  and  E  ding  ton  quadrangles 


Town 

Owner 

Depth  of  well feet 

Depth  of  casing feet 

Rate  of  pumping  gals,  per  min. 
Date  sample  was  collected.  .  .  . 


Rock  Island 

(3rd  Avenue 

and  14th 

Street) 

Moline  Plow 

Co. 

1581 


July  24,  '11 


Rock  Island 
(1st  Avenue 
and  6th  St.) 

Rock  Island 

Plow  Co. 

1404 


April  25,  '11 


Moline 
(Power 
Plant) 

Deere  Plow 

Co. 

1467 

250 

78 

April  23,  '12 


Moline 


Deere  and 

Co. 

1490 

850 

36 

April  23,  '12 


Moline 


Dr.  R.  C.  J 

Meyer 
1028 


Feb.  20,  '07 


Milan 
(4th  and 
West  Sts.) 

City 

1157 
700 
100 
Aug.  8,  '18 


Determinations  made  (parts  per  million) 

Potassium 

12.4 
338.3 
2. 
21. 
46.7 
.1 
1.6 
.  „. 

205. 

378.5 
7.2 
5.2 

30. 

318.4 

.4 

21. 

50. 

2. 

1.2 

"2.2 

295. 

244.8 

18.8 

2.8 

27.8 

297.7 

2.1 

25.3 

57.2 

1.6 

.0 

.0 

.0 

280. 

313.5 

6.4 

5.6 

16.1 

228. 

2.3 

30.5 

71.5 

.8 

1.2 

276!  " 
189.3 

5.6 

4. 

304.6 

1.7 

28.5 

58.6 

.3 

6. 

"'.5 
300. 
307.8 
6.4 

351.5 

1.9 

21.18 

41.31 

1.9 

0.3 

Nitrite 

Nitrate 

.35 

185.2 

371.8 

Sillica 

14.6 

Hypothetical  combinations  (parts  per  million) 


.6 
23.2 

'320:i' 

560.2 

20.2 

'    5.3 

"i'2.1 

116.6 

.2 

'  i!6 

7.2 
5.2 

3.6 
54.5 

'  444 '.  i  ' 

362.2 

59.8 

"  72 .'  7  ' 

124.8 

"2." 

1.2 
18.2 

2.8 

'*53.'" 

'420.5' 
407.1 

"Y.Y 

'   41.  i' 

58.9 

142.8 

3.3 

"qa' 

5.6 

"hb'.i' 

'42i.'5' 
190.9 

'  "8:4- 

"65!7" 

65.8 

178.5 

1.7 

'"i!2* 

5.6 
4. 

.7 
495.1 
337. 

106.4' 

28.4 

146.3 

.6 

"e." 

6.4 
4.4 

Potassium  chloride 

.5 

305.9 

549.6 

120.3 

Ammonium  sulphate 

Ammonium  carbonate 

Magnesium  sulphate 

Magnesium  carbonate 

"  '4.9' 

"73.4' 
103.2 

3.8 

.3 

14.6 

Total 

1183.1 

1145.9 

1146.4 

974. 

1125.3 

1177.1 

Hypothetical  ccmlinations 

(grains  per 

U.  S.  gallon) 

.03 
1.35 

"i8!67 

32.68 

4.09 

".'.31 

"i'.24 

6.80 

.01 

"09 
.42 
.30 

.21 
3.18 

"25:90 

21.12 

3.49 

"4:24 

7.28 
•  •• 

.07 

1.06 

.16 

3.09 

"24.51 
23.74 

'  "44 

"2:44 

3.43 

8.32 

.19 

"  .'  37 
.32 

* ' i ! 79 

"24.58 
11.13 

".'48 

"-3.'83 

3.84 

10.40 

.09 

.04 
28.87 
19.64 

"5:88 

1.66 

8.53 

.03 

"34 
.37 
.26 

Sodium  nitrate 

Sodium  chloride 

Sodium  sulphate 

Sodium  carbonate 

.03 

17.71 

31.18 

6.98 

Ammonium  carbonate ....... 

.29 

Magnesium  carbonate 

4.25 
5.81 

.22 

.06 
.32 
.23 

.01 

.85 

Total 

68.99 

66.82 

66.85 

56.75 

65.62 

68.01 

EDGINGTON-MILAN     AREA:        WATER     RESOURCES 


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208  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

The  city  of  Rock  Island  also  obtains  its  water  supply  from  Mississippi 
River.  The  sanitary  and  mineral  analyses  of  the  water  from  the  Rock 
Island  supply  gave  results  similar  in  a  general  way  to  those  of  the  Moline 
city  water,  as  would  be  expected  from  the  short  distance  between  the  in- 
take of  these  cities. 

Water  Power 

Water  power  is  developed  by  a  dam  across  a  branch  of  Rock  River 
between  Milan  and  Sears.  Much  greater  amounts  of  water  power  could  be 
made  available  on  Mississippi  River  in  this  region  but  no  effort  Las  been 
made  to  develop  power  from  this  source. 


GEOLOGY  AND  MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  THE 
AVON  AND  CANTON  QUADRANGLES 

By  T.  E.  Savage 

OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction     211 

Location  and  importance  of  the  area ..  . .  211 

Acknowledgments 212 

Surface  relief  and  drainage .       213 

General  geology ....   213 

Stratigraphy    214 

Surficial  materials 214 

Indurated  rocks 214 

Detailed   well   sections 215 

Rocks  exposed 218 

Mississippian  system 218 

Burlington    limestone 218 

Pennsylvanian  system 219 

Correlation  220 

Pottsville  formation  220 

Character  and  thickness 220 

Strata  below  No.  1  coal 220 

No.  1  coal  and  associated  strata ....   223 

Strata  above  the  cap-rock  of  No.  1  coal 226 

Carbondale  formation 230 

Strata  between  No.  2  coal  and  the  septarian  nodular  lime- 
stone      230 

Strata  between  the  septarian  limestone  and  No.  5  coal 235 

No.  5  coal  and  associated  strata 236 

Canton  shale  member 240 

Strata  between  the  Canton  shale  and  No.  6  coal 241 

Strata  between  No.  5  and  No.  6  coals  near  Cuba 242 

No.  6  coal 245 

McLeansboro    formation 245 

General  character  of  the  rocks 245 

Strata  between  No.  6  and  No.  7  coals 245 

No.  7  coal  and  overlying  strata 247 

Structure  248 

General  description 249 

Practical  use  of  the  structure  map  250 

Mineral  resources 251 

Coal    251 

Pottsville  coals   252 

Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal 252 

Coal  below  No.  1  coal 252 

Coals  between  No.  1  and  No.  2  coals 253 

Carbondale  coals 253 

Colchester  (No.  2)  coal   253 

No.  3  coal 253 

209 


PAGE 

No.  4  coal 254 

Springfield   (No.   5)   coal 254 

Herrin  (No.  6)  coal 255 

McLeansboro  coal . .  255 

No.  7  coal   255 

Chemical  analyses  of  the  coals 256 

Mines  and   mining  methods 258 

Shale  and  clay 261 

Pennsylvanian  shales  261 

Pleistocene  clays 262 

Clay-working  plants 262 

Sand  and  gravel  263 

Building  stone    263 

Soils  264 

Alluvial  soils   264 

Glacial  till   264 

Sandy  soil 264 

Loess  soils 264 

Water  resources  265 

General  considerations    265 

Water-bearing  strata  266 

Water  supplies    266 

Streams   266 

Shallow  wells 267 

Wells  in  rock   267 

Oil  and  gas 267 

The  Hoing  sand  267 

Other  possible  oil-bearing  horizons 268 

Relation  of  accumulation  to  folds  in  the  oil-bearing  bed 268 

Localities  already  tested  269 

Gas  in  glacial  drift   269 

Recommendations 270 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATE  PAGE 

I.     Geologic  map  of  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles In  pocket 

FIGURE 

33.  Map  showing  the  location  of  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles 211 

34.  Photograph  showing  Pottsville  strata  below  No.  1  coal,  exposed  in  an  old 

quarry  a  few  rods  west  of  Marietta  Station 221 

35.  Photograph  of  an  outcrop  of  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal  and  the  overlying 

limestone  in  the  west  bank  of  Spoon  River  below  Seville 224 

36.  View  of  the  strata  below  No.  2  coal,  exposed  in  the  west  bank  of  Spoon 

River  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  27,  T.  9  N.,  R.  2  E 229 

37.  View  of  No.  2  coal  and  the  overlying  shale  exposed  between  Lewiston  and 

Cuba   235 

38.  Photograph  of   Springfield    (No.  5)   coal  exposed  in  stripping  operations 

1  }/2  miles  north  of  Cuba 237 

39.  Canton  shale,  exposed  in  the   shale  pit  of  M.   Heckard   and    Son,  near 

Canton 241 

40.  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  and  cap-rock,  exposed  along  Copperas  Creek,  2  miles 

east  of  Brereton  245 

210 


FIGURE  PAGE 

41.  Lonsdale  limestone,  exposed  in  an  old  quarry  2Y/2  miles  east  of  Farmington  247 

42.  Shale  exposed  in  the  clay  pit  of  the  Avon  Milling  and   Manufacturing 

Company,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  Avon 261 


42. 
43. 


256 
260 


TABLES 
Analyses  of  mine  samples  of  coal  from  the  Canton  and  Avon  quadrangles 
List  of  shipping  mines  in  and  near  the  Canton  and  Avon  quadrangles. . . . 

INTRODUCTION 
Location  and  Importance  of  the  Area 
The  district  described  in  this  paper  embraces  one  of  the  important  areas 
in  which  the  Springfield   (No.  5)   coal  is  mined  in  the  State.     It  is  quad- 
rangular in  shape,  approximately  26  miles  long  in  an  east  and  west  direction, 
and  a  little  more  than  17  miles  wide,  and  contains  about  450  square  miles. 


Fig.  33.  Map  showing  the  location  of 
the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles.  The 
stippled  boundary  outlines  the  Illinois 
coal   field. 

It  is  situated  towards  the  northwest  part  of  the  Illinois  coal  field  (fig.  33), 
and  includes  portions  of  four  counties  as  follows:  about  63  square  miles  in 
the  southwest  part  of  Knox,  24  square  miles  in  southeast  Warren,  24  square 
miles  in  northeast  McDonough,  and  340  square  miles  in  the  north  part  of 
Fulton. 

The  area  has  been  mapped  topographically  by  the  State  Geological  Sur- 
vey in  co-operation  with  the  United  States  Geological  Survey.  The  name 
Canton  Quadrangle  has  been  given  to  the  east  half  of  the  district  from  the 


211 


212  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

town  of  Canton,  in  the  southeast  quarter,  which  is  situated  near  the  center 
of  the  main  coal  production  in  this  region,  and  the  name  Avon  Quadrangle 
has  been  applied  to  the  west  half  of  this  district  from  the  town  of  Avon,  in 
the  northwest  quarter. 

In  and  near  the  borders  of  this  district  are  included  all  of  the  larger 
coal  mines  of  Fulton  County,  including  19  commercial  mines,  and  more  than 
50  local  mines  which  are  worked  during  only  a  part  of  the  year  to  supply 
local  trade.  Almost  the  entire  area,  except  about  30  square  miles  near  the 
northwest  corner  is  probably  underlain  by  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal 
which  in  some  places  is  known  to  be  3  to  4  feet  thick.  Nearly  three-fourths 
of  the  area  is  underlain  by  the  Colchester  (No.  2  or  Murphysboro)  coal  bed 
which  has  a  rather  uniform  thickness  of  about  30  inches.  Approximately 
the  eastern  third  of  the  area  is  also  underlain  by  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  coal 
which  is  between  4  and  5  feet  thick  and  lies  within  easy  working  distance 
below  the  surface.  Over  somewhat  more  than  50  square  miles  in  the  north- 
east corner  of  the  area  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  is  also  present  in  a  thickness 
of  nearly  5  feet. 

The  quality  of  the  coals  in  this  region  is  generally  good,  and  the  mining 
conditions  in  the  better  coal  beds  are  usually  extremely  favorable.  A  good 
market  for  the  coal  output  is  afforded  by  several  lines  of  railroad  which  pass 
through  the  quadrangles.  The  Toledo,  Peoria,  and  Western  passes  near 
the  south  border  of  the  area  and  affords  a  good  outlet  to  the  east  and  west. 
A  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  passes  through  Canton, 
Brereton,  Norris,  and  Farmington,  near  the  east  side  of  the  district.  The 
Minneapolis  and  St.  Louis  passes  through  London  Mills  and  Farmington  in 
the  north  part  of  the  area.  The  West  Havana  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington and  Quincy  crosses  the  central  part,  through  Cuba,  Ellisville,  and 
London  Mills ;  and  the  Chicago  and  Kansas  City  branch  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  and  Quincy  passes  near  the  west  side  of  the  area  through  Bush- 
nell,  Prairie  City,  Avon,  and  St.  Augustine.  Besides  these  steam  roads 
the  Illinois  Central  electric  road  connects  St.  David,  Canton,  Norris,  and 
Fairview  in  this  area. 

Acknowledgments 

Reports  on  the  geology  of  Fulton,  Warren,  and  Knox  counties  were 
published  by  Worthen  in  1870,  in  which  he  made  the  section  of  Pennsyl- 
vanian  rocks  in  Fulton  County1  the  type  for  western  and  central  Illinois. 

The  annual  Coal  Reports  for  the  State2  have  given  important  infor- 
mation concerning  mining  and  mining  equipment,  and  statistics  on  the  coa 
production  of  this  area  from  year  to  year. 


iWorthen,  A.  H.,  Geol.  Survey  of  Illinois,  vol.  IV,  p.  92,  1870.  See  also  vol.  5,  p.  253, 
1873,  for  the  geology  of  McDonough  County. 

20f  recent  years  these  reports  have  been  published  by  the  Department  of  Mines  and 
Minerals.  Earlier  reports  werefissued  by  the  State  Mining  Board  and  the  Bureau  of  Labor 
Statistics. 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      INTRODUCTION  213 

Leverett  has  described  some  of  the  topographic  features  and  published 
the  records  of  a  few  water  wells  in  this  region.1 

S.  O.  Andros2  has  described  the  coal-mining  practice  in  District  IV, 
which  includes  the  area  under  consideration.  The  coal  operators  in  this 
area  very  generously  furnished  the  Survey  copies  of  the  private  records  of 
their  shafts  and  test  borings  which  were  of  great  help  in  the  preparation 
of  the  structure  data  included  on  the  geologic  map  (PI.  I)  which  accom- 
panies this  paper.     Appreciation  of  this  favor  is  here  gladly  acknowledged. 

Surface  Relief  and  Drainage 

The  range  of  surface  relief  in  the  Canton  and  Avon  quadrangles  is  a 
little  more  than  300  feet,  although  the  altitude  over  much  the  greater  part 
of  the  uplands  is  included  between  640  and  760  feet  above  the  sea.  The 
lowest  point  is  about  three  miles  east  of  the  town  of  Marietta,  where  Spoon 
River  leaves  the  Avon  quadrangle  at  an  elevation  of  about  474  feet.  The 
highest  elevation  is  at  the  top  of  a  low  hill,  about  2  miles  west  of  Norris, 
which  rises  slightly  above  780  feet. 

The  surface  drainage  of  all  but  about  30  square  miles  along  the  east 
margin  of  the  area  is  accomplished  by  Spoon  River  and  its  branches.  This 
river  is  tributary  to  the  Illinois,  which  it  joins  about  20  miles  southeast  of 
the  area,  opposite  the  city  of  Havana.  The  more  important  tributaries  to 
Spoon  River  in  this  area  are  Cedar  Creek  in  the  northwest  portion,  Shaw 
Creek  in  the  southwest,  and  Big,  Littlers,  Coal,  and  Put  creeks  in  the  east. 
The  detailed  topography  of  the  area,  including  the  location  of  timber  tracts, 
public  roads,  railroads,  and  houses,  is  shown  on  the  topographic  map  of  the 
quadrangles.  The  relief  and  altitude  of  the  surface  are  indicated  on  this 
map  by  contour  lines,  each  of  which  passes  through  points  of  equal  elevation 
above  the  sea.  The  successive  contour  lines  are  separated  on  the  ground 
by  a  vertical  interval  of  20  feet. 

A  belt  of  floodplain  l1/^  to  iy2  miles  wide  borders  Spoon  River,  and 
narrower  areas  of  floodplain  border  the  larger  creeks  in  the  region.  The 
surface  of  the  uplands  is  gently  sloping,  but  in  some  places  adjacent  to  the 
river  and  larger  creeks  a  fairly  rugged  topography  has  been  developed. 

GENERAL  GEOLOGY 

In  the  study  of  the  geology  of  this  region  an  effort  was  made  to  deter- 
mine the  number  of  coal  beds  of  commercial  importance  occurring  in  the 
quadrangles ;  the  area  underlain  by  each  of  these  beds ;  the  thickness  and 
the  depth  below  the  surface  of  each  bed  at  different  points ;  and  the  structure 
of  the  beds,  including  the  dips  and  deformations  of  the  coals  and  the  char- 


iLeverett.  Frank.  The  Illinois  Glacial  Lobe:    U.   S.  Geol.   Survey  Mon.  38,  1899. 
2 Andros.   S.   O.,   Coal  Mining  Practice  in  District  IV :    111.   Coal   Mining  Investigations 
Bull.    12,   1915. 


214  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

acter  of  the  associated  strata  as  factors  affecting  the  quality  of  the  coal  and 
the  ease  of  mining. 

The  data  on  the  coals  were  largely  obtained  from  a  study  of  surface 
outcrops  which  are  frequent  in  many  places  along  the  larger  streams.  Impor- 
tant information  was  also  secured  from  the  records  of  coal  test  borings  and 
mine  shafts  that  have  been  put  down  in  the  area.  Additional  information 
was  also  derived  from  the  logs  of  water  wells  in  various  places. 

Stratigraphy 

The  rocks  of  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles  consist  of  a  mantle  of 
surflcial  materials,  overlying  more  consolidated  beds  of  indurated  rocks. 

SURFICIAL  MATERIALS 

The  thickness  of  the  surficial  materials  in  this  area  varies  from  almost 
nothing  to  155  feet.  In  293  wells  and  test  borings  that  passed  through  the 
unconsolidated  deposits,  the  average  thickness  was  38  feet.  These  deposits 
are  thin  over  the  upland  areas  that  constituted  the  higher  lands  during  the 
late  pre-glacial  time,  and  are  deep  over  the  valleys  of  the  early  Pleistocene 
streams.  The  larger  of  these  ancient  drainage  courses  are  followed,  for 
considerable  distances,  by  the  present  streams  of  the  area.  These  pre-glacial 
channels  were  considerably  deeper  and  broader  than  the  present  valleys,  as 
shown  by  the  fact  that  over  a  belt  2  to  3  miles  wide  bordering  Spoon  River 
and  Cedar  Creek  the  ancient  channels  were  eroded  in  the  Pennsylvanian 
strata  70  to  100  feet  below  their  present  floodplains  and  1  to  2  miles  wider 
than  their  present  valleys. 

Over  the  uplands  the  surncial  materials  are  of  Pleistocene  age  and 
consist  of  a  bed  of  fine-grained  silt,  known  as  loess,  10  to  18  feet  thick, 
underlain  by  pebbly  clay  or  till  of  Illinoian  age,  which  has  a  variable  thick- 
ness of  a  few  to  20  or  more  feet.  Along  the  stream  valleys  where  the 
surficial  deposits  are  thick,  they  consist  largely  of  fluvial  or  fine,  glacio-fluvial 
materials.  They  are  composed  for  the  most  part  of  sand  and  clay  with  an 
occasional  bed  of  gravel  in  the  lower  part.1 

INDURATED  ROCKS 

All  of  the  indurated  rocks  exposed  in  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles 
consist  of  nearly  horizontal  strata  of  sedimentary  origin  and  belong  to  the 
Mississippian  and  Pennsylvanian  systems.  They  outcrop  in  many  places 
along  the  streams,  and  comprise  sandstones,  shales,  thin  limestones,  and 
occasional  beds  of  coal. 

The  entire  section  of  the  Pennsylvanian  or  "Coal  Measures"  strata  can 
be  studied  in  natural  exposures  in  the  area  and  the  upper  portion  of  the 


iSavage,  T.  E.,  Relations  of  loess  and  drift  in  Canton  quadrangle  :    111.  State  Geol.  Sur- 
vey Bull.   30,  pp.   109-114,   1917. 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      STRATIGRAPHY  215 

Burlington  limestone,  belonging  to  the  Mississippian,  is  also  exposed.  Below 
the  rocks  that  outcrop  in  the  area,  a  thickness  of  1300  feet  of  Paleozoic 
strata  are  known  from  a  study  of  the  records  of  deep  wells  put  down  for 
water  in  this  region,  the  deepest  of  which  penetrate  the  St.  Peter  sandstone. 
A  section  of  the  rocks  encountered  in  deep  borings  is  shown  in  the  following 
detailed  records. 

DETAILED  WELL  SECTIONS 

The  city  of  Canton  obtains  its  water  supply  from  a  deep  well  put  down 
to  the  St.  Peter  sandstone.  The  Parlin  and  Orendorfr  Plow  Company  has 
also  drilled  a  well  to  the  same  horizon  for  their  water  supply.  There  is  given 
below  a  log  of  the  latter  well,  put  down  in  1896,  as  furnished  by  the  company, 
with  the  interpretations  of  the  several  formations : 

Log  of  zvell  of  Parlin  and  Orendorff  Plow  Company  at  Canton 

Thickness        Depth 

Description   of   strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Surface  clay 22 

Sand  2                 24 

Clay,  blue 16                 40 

Pennsylvanian  system — 
Carbondale  formation — 

Shale    40                 80 

Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5) 4^              84 V£ 

*      Shale   15                  99^ 

Limestone    20  1  \9l/2 

Shale   61  180^ 

Shale 15  \9SV2 

Shale  30  225^ 

Coal  (Murphysboro  or  No.  2) \V2  227 

Pottsville  formation — 

Clay  shale   6  233 

Shale  15  248 

Flint  5  253 

Shale 35  288 

Shale   7  295 

Coal    1  296 

Shale  12  308 

Shale 50  358 

Limestone   (?)    17  375 

Shale  23  398 

Limestone   ( ?),  blue   18  416 

Shale,   sandy   12  428 

Sandstone  and  conglomerate 30  458 

Sandstone 7  465 


216  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Log  of  Parlin  and  Orendorff  well — Concluded 

Thickness        Depth 
Feet  Feet 

Mississippian  system — 
Burlington  formation — 

Limestone,  white   100  565 

Kinderhook  shale — 

Shale,  gray,  calcareous,  about 125  690 

Devonian  system — 

Upper  Devonian  shale — 

Shale,  dark,  with  Sporangitcs,  about 101  791 

Wapsipinicon  limestone — 

Limestone,  gray   62  853 

Silurian  system — 

Niagaran  limestone — 

Limestone,  magnesian    127  980 

(Horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand) 
Ordovician  system — 
Maquoketa  shale — 

Shale  and  limestone 175  1 155 

Galena-Platteville  limestone- 
Limestone  186  1341 

Sandstone  ( ?)   (probably  dolomite)    5  1346 

Limestone  10  1356 

Sandstone  and  limestone  mixed 20  1376 

Limestone 69  1445 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 
Sandstone,  white   282  1727 

The  city  well  at  Cuba  passed  through  a  succession  of  strata  similar  to 
those  described  in  the  above  record,  and  reached  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  at 
about  the  same  depth,  as  shown  below : 

Log  of  deep  zvell  for  city  water  supply  at  Cuba,  Illinois1 
Elevation  of  curb,  677  feet 

Thickness       Depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and  clay 34  34 

Pennsylvanian  system — 
Carbondale  and  Pottsville  formations — 

Shale,  sandy 68  102 

Sandstone    4  106 

Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5  bed) 5  111 

Shale  and  sandstone 144  255 

Limestone  (  ? ) ,  hard,  black 5  260 

Shale,  gray  and  dark 50  310 

Limestone  ( ?),  white 25  335 

Shale 95  430 

iCompiled  in  part  from  a  record  furnished  by  the  City  Clerk,  and  in  part  from  a  study 
of  samples  of  drilling  sent  to  the  Survey  by  O.  Klutz. 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      STRATIGRAPHY  217 

Log   of  Cuba   City  well — Concluded 

Thickness       Depth 
Feet  Feet 

Mississippian  system — 
Burlington  limestone — 

Limestone,  white  to  gray,  largely  replaced  by  chert 95  525 

Limestone,  dolomitic,  white  to  light  gray,  with  some  chert 105  630 

Kinderhook  shale — 

Shale,  gray,  calcareous 130  760 

Devonian  system — 
Upper  Devonian  (Sweetland  Creek)  shale — 

Shale,  gray  to  dark,  with  spores  of  Sporangitcs  huronense 55  £15 

(Horizon  of  Wapsipinicon-Devonian  limestone,  but  if  pres- 
ent, it  was  not  distinguished  from  the  underlying  Silurian) 
Silurian  system — 

Niagaran  limestone   (possibly  in  part  Devonian)  — 

Dolomite,  gray  to  brown 70  945 

Dolomite,  gray,  with  a  very  little  hard  dark  shale 95  1040 

Ordovician  system — 
Maquoketa  shale — 

Shale,  dark  gray  to  brown 45  1085 

Shale,  light  gray,  slightly  dolomitic 80  1165 

Galena-Platteville  limestone — 

Dolomite,  dark  gray,  with  some  pyrite 45  1210 

Dolomite,  gray  to  tan  color 360  1570 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 

Sandstone,  white,  of  clear  rounded  quartz  grains 190  1760 

.  The  following  is  the  log  of  a  well  drilled  a  few  miles  south  of  the  Avon 
quadrangle,  near  the  town  of  New  Philadelphia.  All  but  the  upper  238  feet 
of  this  record  was  compiled  from  a  study  of  samples  that  were  saved  from 
every  bailer  as  the  well  was  put  down.  The  upper  part  was  taken  from  the 
driller's  record. 

Log  of  well  drilled  near  New  Philadelphia 

Thickness        Depth 
Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and  yellow  clay 17  17 

Sand,  soft  2  19 

Clay,  blue   39  58 

Quicksand  and  fine  gravel  (gas  at  58  feet) 4  62 

Gravel,  with  water  and  gas 10  72 

Pennsylvanian   system — 
Pottsville  formation — 

Limestone    (?)    14  86 

Shale,  blue 69  155 

Mississippian  system — 
Burlington  limestone — 

Limestone,  white  to  light  gray  (with  water) 190  345 


218  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Log  of  well  drilled  near  Neiv  Philadelphia — Concluded 

Thickness       Depth 
Feet  Feet 

Kinderhook  shale — 

Shale,  light  gray  to  bluish 85  430 

Devonian  system — 
Upper  Devonian  (Sweetland  Creek)   shale — 

Shale,  dark  and  light 155  585 

Wapsipinicon  limestone — 

Limestone,  light  gray ;    slight  showing  of  oil  at  610  and  635  feet     56  641 

Silurian  system — 

Limestone,  gray,  magnesian 10  651 

(Horizon  of  Hoing  sand) 
Ordovician  system — 
Maquoketa  shale — 

Shale,  bluish  gray   160  811 

Shale,  gray,  somewhat  sandy    20  831 

Galena  limestone — 

Dolomite,  yellowish  gray 89  920 

ROCKS   EXPOSED 
MISSISSIPPIAN    SYSTEM 
BURLINGTON    LIMESTONE 

The  oldest  rocks  exposed  in  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles  belong 
to  the  Burlington  formation  of  the  Osage  group.  They  outcrop  in  a  few 
places  along  Cedar  Creek  and  its  branches  in  the  Avon  quadrangle,  exposing 
a  thickness  of  10  to  13  feet. 

In  sec.  31,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  E.,  the  following  section  is  exposed  in  the  west 
bank  of  Cedar  Creek. 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  31,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  E. 

Thickness 
Feet 
Quaternary  system — 

Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

8.     Loess    5 

7.     Till,  pebbly,  reddish  brown 4 

Pennsylvanian  system — 
Pottsville  formation — 

6.     Sandstone,  gray    7 

5.     Shale,  bluish,  or  shaly  sandstone 4 

4.     Coal   \V2 

3.     Shale,  dark  and  gray 14 

2.     Sandstone,  gray;    in  places  absent  when  the  chert  is  highest 6 

Mississippian  system — 
Burlington  chert — 

1.     Chert,  in  layers  3  to  7  inches  thick 11 

52^ 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      MISSISSIPPIAX    SYSTEM  219 

In  this  place  the  uneven  contact  of  the  Burlington  and  Pottsville  forma- 
tions is  exposed  for  several  rods,  at  an  altitude  of  571  to  578  feet.  The 
chert  masses  in  the  lowest  member  of  the  above  section  contained  the 
following  fossils : 

Fossils  from  Burlington  chert  exposed  in  sec.  31,  T.9N.,  R.1E. 

Granatocrinus  cf.  norwoodi  Owen  and  Shumard 

Fenestella  sp. 

Hemitrypa  sp. 

Productus  burlingtonensis  Hall 

Productus  viminalis  White 

Spirifer  incertus   Hall 

Spirifer  grimesi  Hall 

Spiriferella  latior  Weller 

Syringothyris  sp. 

Athyris  lamellosa   (Leveille) 

Orthonychia  sp. 

Platyceras  sp. 

Myalina  sp. 

The  contact  of  the  Burlington  strata  with  the  Pottsville  is  also  well 
exposed  in  the  east  bank  of  Cedar  Creek  about  a  mile  farther  north,  and 
again  in  the  bank  of  a  tributary  of  Cedar  Creek,  in  sec.  30,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  E., 
where  the  following  section  was  made : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  near  the  middle  of  the 
east  half  of  sec.  30,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  E. 

Quaternary  system  (Pleistocene  and  Recent) —  Feet 

Loess,  gray  to  yellow 3 

Till,  brown,  pebbly  5 

Pennsylvanian   system    (Pottsville   formation)  — 

Shale,  dark  gray 6 

Mississippian  system  (Burlington  limestone) — 

Chert,  gray ;  in  layers  3  to  9  inches  thick 5 

Limestone,  light  gray,  crinoidal,  in  layers  3  to  12  inches  thick 8 

The  top  of  the  Burlington  limestone  at  this  place  has  an  altitude  of 
about  603  feet,  and  the  strata  afforded  fossils  similar  to  those  given  in  the 
former  list. 


PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM 

The  Pennsylvanian  strata  in  this  region  rest  in  irregular  unconformity 
upon  the  Burlington  limestone  of  the  Mississippian  system,  from  which  they 
are  separated  by  a  sedimentary  break  of  very  considerable  length.  In  some 
places  the  lower  30  or  40  feet  of  Pennsylvanian  rocks  consist  chiefly  of 
sandstone,  while  in  other  places  little  or  no  sandstone  occurs  in  the  basal 


220  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

portion.  In  the  middle  and  upper  parts  of  the  Pennsylvanian  section,  shale 
sediments  far  exceed  the  sandstones,  and  occasional  bands  of  limestone  and 
beds  of  coal  are  also  present.  Worthen  made  the  section  of  Pennsylvanian 
strata  exposed  in  Fulton  County  the  type  or  standard  section  for  the  correla- 
tion of  the  "Coal  Measures"  strata  in  the  central  and  western  parts  of  the 
State.  He  found  exposed  in  this  region  seven  coal  beds,  four  of  which  have 
been  mined  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  He  applied  consecutive  numbers  to 
the  more  important  of  these  coal  beds,  beginning  with  No.  1  at  the  bottom. 
The  coals  he  numbered  4  and  5  respectively  in  this  region  are  now  known 
to  be  the  same  bed ;  the  early  misinterpretation  was  due  to  confusion  arising 
from  the  much  smaller  interval  between  coals  No.  5  and  No.  6  in  the  vicinity 
of  Cuba  than  farther  east  in  Fulton  County,  and  also  from  the  fact  that  owing 
to  local  deformation  the  elevation  of  No.  5  coal,  where  it  is  exposed  on 
opposite  sides  of  a  creek  north  of  Cuba,  varies  nearly  30  feet. 

CORRELATION 

From  a  study  of  the  fossil  plants,  David  White  has  concluded  that  the 
Pottsville,  Allegheny,  and  Conemaugh  formations  of  the  Appalachian  region 
are  represented  in  Illinois.  The  equivalent  of  the  Pottsville  formation  of 
the  eastern  states  includes  the  strata  from  the  base  of  the  Pennsylvanian  up 
to  the  base  of  the  Colchester  (No.  2,  or  Murphysboro)  coal  bed,  and  these 
strata  will  be  referred  to  the  Pottsville  formation.  On  account  of  the  uncer- 
tainty of  the  plane  of  division  between  the  strata  representing  respectively 
the  Allegheny  and  Conemaugh  formations  in  Illinois,  local  formation  names, 
the  Carbondale  and  the  McLeansboro,  have  been  applied  to  the  Pennsylvanian 
strata  above  the  Pottsville  in  this  region,  the  top  of  the  Herrin  or  No.  6 
coal  being  made  the  division  between  these  formations. 

POTTSVILLE    FORMATION 

Character  and  thickness. — In  the  southern  part  of  the  state  the  Pottsville 
formation  consists  dominantly  of  sandstone,  and  has  a  thickness  of  500  to 
700  or  more  feet,  but  in  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles  the  sandstone 
sediments  are  subordinate  to  shale  in  this  formation  and  the  thickness  does 
not  exceed  125  feet. 

Strata  betzveen  the  base  of  the  Pottsville  and  the  Rock  Island '  (No.  1) 
coal. — Pottsville  strata  occurring  below  No.  1  coal  in  this  region  outcrop  in 
several  places  in  the  Avon  quadrangle  as  shown  on  the  map  (Plate  I). 
They  are  exposed  in  an  abandoned  quarry  on  the  north  side  of  a  tributary  of 
Spoon  River,  a  few  rods  west  of  Marietta  Station,  in  the  NW.  *4  sec.  22, 
T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.  (fig.  34).  The  succession  of  strata  at  this  place  is  described 
in  the  following  section : 

iThe  manuscript  for  the  report  on  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles  was  prepared 
before  the  field  study  on  the  Edgington  and  Milan  quadrangles  was  made.  As  a  result 
of  the  field  study  of  the  latter  area  it  seems  probable  that  some  name  other  than  "Rock 
Island"  should  be  applied  to  the  No.   1  coal  bed. 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  221 

Section  of  rocks  in  an  abandoned  quarry  near  Marietta  Station 

Ft.     In. 

13.     Shale,   gray    6 

12.     Sandstone,  gray  to  brown 10 

11.     Shale,  gray,  having  a  3  to  6-inch  concretionary  layer  2lA  feet  from  the 

bottom    7     .. 

10.     Coal    1 

9.     Clay   shale,  gray,  becoming  sandy  in   the   lower  part  and   containing 

numerous  crystals  of  selenite 2       6 

8.     Limestone,  hard,  dark  colored,  consisting  largely  of  septarian  nodules 
and  containing  Lophophyllum  profundum,  Productus  semircticula- 

tus,  and  Composita  argentea  1       8 

7.     Clay  shale,  gray   2       6 

6.     Shale,  black  bituminous   2 

5.     Clay  shale,  gray,  with  selenite  crystals , 5 

4.     Coal  band,  about  4 

3.     Shale,   dark  gray    3       6 

2.     Shale,  black,   fissile    9 

1.     Sandstone,  gray  to  brown,  in  thick  layers,  the  top  deeply  stained  and 

firmly  cemented  with  iron    12 


Fig.   34.     Photograph  showing  Pottsville  strata  below  No.   1   coal,   exposed  in 
an  old  quarry  a  few  rods  west  of  Marietta  Station. 


222  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

A  boring  at  Leaman  station,  half  a  mile  east  of  the  exposure  described 
above,  passed  through  35  feet  of  shale  and  sandstone,  and  60  feet  of  hard 
limestone,  the  latter  belonging  to  the  Mississippian  system.  The  top  of  this 
boring  was  about  20  feet  below  the  level  of  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal 
bed  which  outcrops  in  the  north  bank  of  the  stream  at  that  place.  This 
would  indicate  a  thickness  of  about  55  feet  of  Pottsville  strata  below  No.  1 
coal  in  this  region. 

Farther  north  along  the  wagon  road  up  the  hill  between  Marietta  station 
and  the  town,  the  following  layers  are  exposed  above  the  level  of  the  top  of 
the  preceding  section: 

Section  in  the  hill  north  of  Marietta  station 

Ft.    In. 

5.     Sandstone,  yellow  to  brown 7     . . 

4.     Shale,  gray    5     . . 

3.  Limestone,  dark,  fossiliferous,  with  a  2-inch  band  of  cone-in-cone  struc- 

ture at  the  top  7 

2.  Shale,  dark 6 

1.  Coal  (Rock  Island  or  No.  1) 2      3 

Sandstone  and  shale  of  early  Pottsville  age  outcrop  to  a  height  of  16  to 
20  feet  in  a  number  of  places  along  the  banks  of  Cedar  Creek  and  its  branches 
in  sections  22,  23,  26  and  27,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  W.,  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  Avon  quadrangle.  In  the  south  bank  of  the  creek  in  the  NE.  y^  sec- 
26  of  this  township  the  following  succession  of  strata  is  exposed : 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  in  the  N.E.  *4  scc-  26,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  W. 

Feet 

4.  Sandstone,  gray  to  yellow,  massive  and  irregularly  bedded 11 

3.  Coal 1 

2.  Shale,  clayey    ZV2 

1:     Coal V/2 

Two  thin  coals  separated  by  3  to  6  feet  of  shale  usually  occur  20  to  25 
feet  below  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal  bed.  A  few  feet  of  shale  frequently 
lie  between  the  upper  coal  and  the  overlying  sandstone,  and  10  to  14  feet 
of  dark  shale  usually  underlies  the  lower  coal  bed  of  the  last  section.  About 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  farther  down  this  stream  on  the  same  side  of  the  valley, 
strata  belonging  above  the  top  of  the  section  last  given  are  well  exposed. 

Section  of  strata  near  the  middle  of  the  east  side  of  sec.  26,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  W . 

Feet 

4.  Limestone   (cap  rock  of  No.  1  coal),  dark,  shaly,  fossiliferous 9 

3.  Coal   (Rock  Island  or  No.  1  bed) 3% 

2.     Shale,  clayey 1 

1.     Sandstone,  the  top  containing  very  numerous  rootlets  of  Stigmaria 5 

In  this  region  Stigmaria  with  casts  of  numerous  rootlets  attached  are 
generallv  abundant  in  the  upner  part  of  the  sandstone  a  few  feet  below  the 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  223 

Rock  Island  coal,  as  in  the  east  bank  of  Swan  Creek  in  the  NE.  y±  sec.  23, 
T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and  near  the  middle  of  the  S.  i/2  sec.  10,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E., 
and  at  several  other  places.  In  sections  30  and  31,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  E.,  less 
than  2  miles  east  of  the  outcrop  last  described  no  sandstone  occurs  below 
the  thin  coal  beds  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Pottsville  formation,  as  may  be 
seen  in  the  sections  on  a  preceding  page  showing  the  contact  of  the  Burling- 
ton limestone  and  the  Pottsville  formation.  It  is  probable  that  the  surface 
of  the  Mississippian  limestone  on  which  the  basal  Pottsville  sediments  were 
laid  down  in  this  region  had  a  relief  of  at  least  40  feet,  and  probably  more, 
so  that  the  sandstones  that  occur  in  the  basal  part  of  the  Pottsville  were 
deposited  in  the  depressions,  and  the  higher  portions  of  the  Mississippian 
surface  were  not  submerged  by  the  Pottsville  sea  until  after  the  lower  sand- 
stones were  laid  down. 

Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal  and  associated  strata. — Worthen  made  the  coal 
bed  outcropping  in  the  west  bank  of  Spoon  River  near  the  village  of  Seville, 
the  type  of  No.  1  coal  for  this  part  of  Illinois.  This  coal,  which  is  probably 
equivalent  to  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal,  occurs  about  25  feet  above  the 
middle  of  the  Pottsville  formation.  It  is  well  exposed  along  the  Toledo, 
Peoria,  and  Western  Railroad,  one  and  one-half  miles  below  Seville  station, 
as  shown  in  figure  35  and  described  below : 

Section  along  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western  R.  R., 
1%  miles  belozv  Seville  station 

Feet 

5.     Shale,  gray   10 

4.     Limestone,  nodular,  shaly,  fossiliferous,  in  layers  1  to  2  inches  thick....     5 

3.     Shale,  black 2 

2.     Coal,  Rock  Island   (No.  1)   bed 3# 

1.     Shale,  gray,   clayey    2y2 

Along  Spoon  River,  half  a  mile  below  Seville  station,  about  6  feet  of 
sandy  shale  is  exposed  below  the  Rock  Island  coal,  and  is  underlain  by  12 
feet  of  sandstone  and  sandy  shale,  beneath  which  is  a  thickness  of  15  feet 
of  massive  sandstone  extending  down  to  the  water  in  the  river. 

The  Rock  Island  coal  is  exposed  at  a  number  of  places  in  the  Avon 
quadrangle  and  ranges  in  thickness  from  1  to  4y2  feet.  Its  development  is 
somewhat  irregular,  and  it  is  absent  at  a  few  places  where  its  horizon  is 
exposed.  It  is  mined  on  a  commercial  scale  at  Ellisville  station  and  inter- 
mittently near  Ellisville  in  the  vicinity  of  Babylon,  at  London  Mills  near  the 
center  of  the  east  line  of  sec.  10,  T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E.,  and  in  the  NE.  %  of  the 
SW.  %  sec.  10,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E.  This  coal  is  usually  overlain  by  a  dark, 
somewhat  impure  limestone  (fig.  35)  that  varies  in  thickness  from  5  to  20 
feet,  which  may  be  separated  from  the  coal  by  %  to  3  feet  of  dark  shale. 
Besides  the  localities  in  the  vicinity  of  Seville,  the  Rock  Island  coal  and  its 


224 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   191! 


Fig. 


35.     Photograph  of  an  outcrop  of  Rock  Island    (No.   1)    coal  and  the  over- 
lying" limestone  in  the  west   bank  of  Spoon  River  below  Seville. 


limestone  cap  rock  are  well  exposed  in  the  bed  of  a  small  tributary  to  Spoon 
River  near  the  middle  of  the  west  side  of  sec.  13,  a  short  distance  below 
the  wagon  bridge  at  Babylon.  They  are  well  exposed  at  a  number  of  places 
along  Ay les worth  branch  and  its  tributaries,  near  the  middle  of  the  east  side 
of  sec.  10,  and  in  the  S.  i/2  of  sec.  11,  T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E. 

The  cap  rock  of  the  Rock  Island  coal  outcrops  in  the  bed  of  Spoon 
River  just  above  the  wagon  bridge  at  Ellisville.  It  is  also  exposed  to  a  height 
of  8  feet  in  both  banks  of  Put  Creek  below  the  wagon  bridge,  near  the 
middle  of  sec.  4,  T.  6  N.,  R.  2  E.  Corresponding  strata  are  also  well  exposed 
in  the  east  bank  of  Cedar  Creek  in  the  SE.  y4  sec.  10,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E., 
where  the  following  section  was  made : 


Section  of  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal  and  cap  rock 
in  the  SE.y4scc.lO.  T.8N.,  R.  1  E. 

Feet 

3.     Limestone,   dark,   shaly  hard,   fossiliferous 10 

2.     Shale,  dark l/2 

1.     Coal,  Rock  Island    (No.  1)   bed 4 

Strata  corresponding  to  the  above  outcrop  in  the  north  bank  of  Cedar 
Creek  near  the  west  side  of  the  same  section,  and  are  also  exposed  for  about 
40  rods  in  the  north  bank  of  Cedar  Creek,  as  in  the  NE.  14  sec.  26,  T.  9  N.. 
R.  1  W.,  as  shown  below : 


AVON-CANTON  AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  225 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NE.%  sec.  26,  T.9N.,  R.1W. 

Feet 

5.     Limestone,   dark,    shaly,    fossiliferous 8 

4.     Shale,  dark  x/t 

3.     Coal,  Rock  Island   (No.  1)  bed   3 

2.     Shale,  clayey   1 

1.     Sandstone,  gray  micaceous,  with  numerous  Stigmaria  and  rootlets  at  top...  5 

The  strata  at  this  place  are  inclined  towards  the  east  a  little  greater  than 
the  fall  of  the  stream.  In  the  south  bank  of  the  creek,  near  the  east  end  of 
this  exposure,  the  sandstone  overlying  the  cap  rock  above  the  Rock  Island 
coal  has  been  quarried  to  a  height  of  10  feet  and  is  succeeded  by  6  feet  of 
shale.  The  exposure  of  the  Rock  Island  coal  and  limestone  cap  rock 
described  in  the  above  section  terminates  at  the  west  by  a  small  fault  which 
has  brought  up  beds  belonging  beneath  the  coal  so  that  a  ledge  of  rather 
massive  sandstone,  6  to  10  feet  thick,  occurs  at  the  level  of  the  limestone  on 
the  opposite  side  of  a  small  ravine  tributary  to  the  creek  on  the  north. 

In  some  places  the  Rock  Island  coal  and  its  limestone  cap  rock  are  both 
absent,  as  in  the  exposure  in  the  east  bank  of  Swan  Creek,  in  the  NE.  y^ 
sec.  23,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W. ;  in  the  south  bank  of  Shaw  Creek,  in  the  SE.  ^4 
sec.  10,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E. ;  and  at  a  few  other  places  in  the  Avon  quadrangle. 

The  limestone  above  the  Rock  Island  coal  in  places  contains  many  fossils, 
among  which  are  the  following  species : 


Fossils  from  the  dark  limestone  above  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal 


Fossils 


Lophophyllum  profundum  Edwards  and  Haime. . .  . 

Euphachyrinus  crassus  Meek  and  Worthen 

Fistulipora  sp 

Fenestella  delicatula  Ulrich 

Fenestella  mimica  Ulrich 

Fenestella  perminuta  Ulrich 

Fenestella  wortheni  Ulrich 

Polypora  whitei  Ulrich 

Thamniscus  sevillensis  Ulrich 

Pinnatopora  bellula  Ulrich 

Septopora  delicatula  Ulrich 

Diploporaria  biserialis  Ulrich 

Rhombopora  cf.  multipora  Foreste 

Chainodictyon  laxum  var.  minor  Ulrich 

Orbiculoidea  cf.  manhattanensis  Meek  and  Hayden 

Orbiculoidea  missouriensis  Shumard 

Derbya  crassa  Meek  and  Hayden 

Derbya  cf .  robusta  Hall 


Near 
Marietta 


Near 
Seville 


Near 
Ellisville 


226  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Fossils  from  the  dark  limestone  above  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal — Concluded 


Fossils 


Near 
Marietta 


Near 
Seville 


Near 
Ellisville 


Chonetes  mesolobus  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Productus  cora  D'Orbigny 

Productus  nanus  Meek  and  Worthen 

Productus  semireticulatus  Martin 

Marginifera  muricata  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Marginifera  splendens  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Pugnax  uta  Marcou 

Dielasma  bovidens  Morton 

Spirifer  cameratus  Morton 

Spirifer  rockymontana  Meek 

Spiriferina  kentuckyensis  Shumard 

Squamularia  perplexa  McChesney 

Ambocoelia  planiconvexa  Shumard 

Hustedia  mormoni  Marcou 

Composita  argentea  Shepard 

Solenomya  soleniformis  Cox 

Cardiomorpha  missouriensis  Shumard 

Yoldia  knoxensis  McChesney 

Yoldia  rushensis  McChesney 

Schizodus  sp 

Aviculopecten  sp 

Entolium  aviculatum  Swallow 

Allorisma  cuneatum  Swallow 

Astartella  concentrica  McChesney 

Pleurotomaria  speciosa  Meek  and  Worthen 

Phanerotrema  grayvillensis  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Euphemus  carbonarius  Cox 

Schizostoma  catilloides  Conrad 

Meekospira  inornata  (?)  Meek  and  Worthen 

Meekospira  peracuta  Meek  and  Worthen 

Soleniscus  brevis  White 

Soleniscus  truncata  (?) 

Sphaerodoma  ponderosa  Swallow 

Platyceras  cf.  parvum  Swallow 

Orthoceras  rushense  McChesney 


Pottsville  strata  above  the  cap  rock  of  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal. — 

The  limestone  above  the  Rock  Island  coal  is  usually  succeeded  by  10  to  13 
feet  of  sandstone  above  which  shale  predominates  up  to  the  Colchester 
(No.  2)  coal  bed.  The  sandstone  is  well  exposed  in  the  north  bank  of  Cedar 
Creek  near  the  middle  of  the  west  side  of  sec.  10,  and  in  the  south  bank  of 
the  creek  in  the  SE.  14  sec.  9,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E.  At  the  latter  place  the 
following  strata  are  exposed : 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  227 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  south  bank  of  Cedar  Creek 

in  SE.  yA  sec.  9,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E.  Feet 

5.     Shale,   dark    4 

4.  Coal    1 

3.  Shale,  hard  black,  laminated 2l/t 

2.  Shale,    dark    2l/2 

1.  Sandstone,   gray,   micaceous 13 

An  almost  complete  section  of  the  strata  between  the  limestone  above 
the  Rock  Island  coal  and  the  Colchester  (No.  2)  bed,  is  passed  over  in  the 
wagon  road  going  up  the  hill  from  Aylesworth  branch  in  the  NW.  %  sec-  14, 
T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E.,  as  shown  below : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  along  the  wagon  road  in 

the  NW.  ]/a  sec.  14,  T.  7  N .,  R.  1  E.  Feet 

13.  Shale,  gray  15 

12.  Shale,  black,  bituminous 2/z 

11.  Shale,  gray 8 

10.  Coal    1 

9.  Shale,  gray  6 

8.  Coal    V* 

7.  Shale,  gray 9 

6.  Limestone,  nodular  septarian,  with  very  irregular  surfaces 2/z 

5.  Shale,  gray 3 

4.  Shale,  black  laminated   2 

3.  Shale,  gray  to  dark,  hard    7 

2.  Coal  1  to    2 

1.  Sandstone,  gray,  and  sandy  shale 12 

The  band  of  very  rough  septarian  nodular  limestone,  y2  to  1%  feet 
thick,  is  persistent  in  this  region  25  to  35  feet  above  the  Rock  Island  coal, 
and  only  3  to  9  feet  below  another  thin  bed.  Strata  similar  to  those  described 
in  the  foregoing  section  outcrop  along  the  banks  of  another  tributary  to 
Aylesworth  Branch  along  the  south  side  of  sec.  10,  and  in  the  SW.  */£  sec. 
11,  T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E.  The  band  of  nodular  limestone  and  overlying  strata 
are  also  exposed  along  the  tributaries  of  Spoon  River  in  the  SE.  14  sec.  29, 
and  in  the  banks  of  Turkey  Creek  and  its  branches  in  sec.  27,  T.  7  N., 
R.  2  E.,  as  shown  in  the  section  given  below : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  east  bank  of  Turkey  Creek, 

near  the  middle  of  sec.  27,  T.  7  N.,  R.  2  E.  Feet 

5.  Sandstone,    gray,    micaceous 3 

4.  Shale,   gray    11 

3.  Coal    1 

2.  Shale,  gray    4 

1.     Limestone,  nodular,  septarian,  with  very  irregular  surfaces 1 

Strata  equivalent  to  the  above  are  exposed  along  Shoal  Creek  in  sec. 
35,  T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E.,  and  sees.  1  and  12,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.  The  following 
section  is  exposed  in  the  west  bank  of  this  creek  near  the  NE.  corner  of 
sec.  12. 


228  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Section  of  rocks  exposed  near  the  northeast  corner  of  sec.  12,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E. 

Feet 

5.  Shale,  gray  6 

4.  Coal    1 

3.  Shale,  gray   $y2 

2.     Limestone,   irregular,    septarian,   nodular 1 

1.     Shale,  gray 5 

Farther  south  along  the  lower  course  of  Shaw  Creek  and  its  tribu- 
taries in  sees.  9,  10,  11,  13,  and  14,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.,  there  are  numerous 
outcrops  of  strata  belonging  in  the  interval  between  No.  2  coal  and  the  lime- 
stone above  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coal  as  shown  in  the  following  repre- 
sentative section  given  below: 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NW.1/^  sec.  13,  T.6N.,  R.1E. 

Feet 
11.     Shale,  black,  laminated,  with  a  6-inch  band  of  fossiliferous  concretionary 

limestone    •. .     2l/£ 

10.  Shale,  gray   12 

9.     Coal    (Murphysboro  or   No.  2) 2% 

8.  Shale,  gray  to  blue  17 

7.  Sandstone,  gray,  micaceous    3 

6.  Shale,  gray    5 

5.  Shale,  sandy,  laminated   1 

4.  Shale,   gray    2y2 

3.  Coal    1 

2.  Shale,  gray  4 

1.  Limestone,  septarian,  nodular  and  irregular 1 

In  the  north  half  of  the  Avon  quadrangle,  Pottsville  strata  above  the 
limestone  overlying  the  Rock  Island  coal  outcrop  in  several  places  along 
Cedar  Creek  and  Spoon  River  and  their  tributaries,  a  representative  section 
of  which  is  well  exposed  in  the  west  bank  of  Cedar  Creek,  near  the  middle 
of  the  west  side  of  sec.  1,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E.,  where  the  following  section 
was  made : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  west  bank  of  Cedar  Creek  in  sec.  1,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E. 

f  Feet 

11.  Coal   (Colchester  or  No.  2) \yA 

10.     Shale,  somewhat  concealed 25 

9.  Sandstone,  gray,  in  thick  and  thin  layers 3  to    8 

8.  Sandstone,  gray,  in  thin  laminae  alternating  with  dark  shale 6 

7.  Sandstone,  gray,  massive,  lenticular 2  to    8 

6.  Coal    H 

5.  Shale,  gray,  clayey  Zy2 

4.  Shale,  black,  laminated    3 

3.  Coal,  shaly 1 

2.  Shale,  gray  to  dark 6 

1.     Sandstone,  gray,  micaceous 5 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM 


229 


Strata  corresponding  to  some  part  of  the  above  section  outcrop  in  the 
banks  of  a  number  of  the  streams  tributary  to  Cedar  Creek  on  the  north 
between  the  place  where  the  last  section  was  made  and  London  Mills.  They 
are  well  exposed  in  the  east  bank  of  Cedar  Creek,  near  the  middle  of  sec. 
5,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E.,  and  they  outcrop  in  the  west  bank  of  Spoon  River,  in 
the  SW.  %  sec.  27,  T.  9  N.,  R.  2  E.,  as  shown  in  figure  36  and  described 
in  the  following  section : 


Fig.  36. 


View  of  the  strata  below  No.  2  coal,  exposed  in  the  west  bank  of  Spoon  River 
in  the  SW.  %  sec.  27,  T.  9  N.,  R.  2  E. 


Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  zvest  bank  of  Spoon  River 
in  sec.  27,  T.  9  N.,  R.  2  E. 

Feet 

5.     Sandstone,  gray,  micaceous   9 

4.     Coal    1 

3.     Shale,  gray  and  dark,  with  bands  of  sandstone 28 

2.     Shale,  black,  laminated,  with   septarian  nodules  underlying  a  thin  coal 

near  the  top    14 

1.     Sandstone,  gray,  in  thin  layers 9 

Near  the  heads  of  the  small  branches  that  join  the  river  in  the  south- 
west quarter  of  this  section,  No.  2  coal  has  been  stripped  at  a  number  of 
places  at  an  altitude  of  about  584  feet,  less  than  10  feet  higher  than  the  top 


230  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

of  the  section  given  above.  In  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Avon  quad- 
rangle, strata  belonging  near  the  top  of  the  Pottsville  formation  are  well 
exposed  in  a  number  of  places  between  a  place  a  short  distance  east  of  the 
middle  of  the  west  side  of  sec.  22,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and  the  junction  of 
this  stream  with  Swan  Creek,  and  in  the  banks  of  smaller  tributaries  of 
Swan  Creek,  in  sec.  23  of  the  same  township.  A  section  of  the  strata  exposed 
in  the  SW.  !/4  sec.  14  of  this  township  is  given  below : 

Section   of  strata  exposed   in   the  SW  .VA  sec.  14,   T.8N.,  RAW. 

Feet 

6.  Shale,   gray    4^ 

5.  Coal    y3 

4.  Shale,  gray  to  dark   12 

3.  Coal     1 

2.  Shale,  gray  and  dark 20 

1 .  Sandstone,  gray    7 

Strata  corresponding  to  some  part  of  those  of  the  above  section  also 
outcrop  in  many  places  along  the  streams  in  sees.  19,  30,  and  31,  T.  9  N., 
R.  1  E. 

CARBONDALE   FORMATION 

The  Carbondale  formation  in  Illinois  includes  all  of  the  Pennsylvanian 
strata  lying  between  the  base  of  the  Murphysboro  (Colchester  or  No.  2) 
coal  and  the  top  of  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  bed.  The  name  is  taken  from  the 
town  of  Carbondale,  in  Jackson  County,  Illinois,  in  the  vicinity  of  which  the 
rocks  of  this  formation  are  well  exposed.  The  Carbondale  strata  in  the  Avon 
and  Canton  quadrangles  range  in  thickness  from  120  to  175  feet,  and  consist 
of  shale  and  sandstone  with  thin  bands  of  limestone  and  a  few  beds  of  coal. 

Strata  betzveen  the  Murphysboro  (No.  2)  coal  and  the  septarian  nodular 
limestone. — The  No.  2  coal  is  known  locally  as  the  30-inch  bed,  and  its  thick- 
ness is  remarkably  uniform,  averaging  about  2y2  feet  over  all  of  this  region. 
In  many  places  in  the  Avon  quadrangle  this  coal  is  worked  by  stripping  and 
in  drift  mines,  as  in  the  vicinity  of  London  Mills,  Avon,  and  Marietta. 

The  Colchester  (No.  2)  coal  is  everywhere  immediately  overlain  by  a 
bed  of  rather  soft,  bluish-gray  shale,  which  makes  a  poor  roof.  The  thick- 
ness of  this  shale  is  9  to  14  feet  in  the  northern  and  western  parts  of  the 
region,  but  it  thickens  toward  the  south.  It  is  followed  above  by  a  black 
laminated  shale,  3  to  6  feet  thick,  near  the  middle  part  of  which  in  most 
places  there  occurs  a  band  of  very  fossiliferous  septarian,  nodular  limestone, 
!/2  to  1  foot  thick,  the  uppermost  2  inches  of  which  shows  cone-in-cone 
structure.  This  easily  recognized  succession  of  strata  is  exposed  in  many 
places  in  the  Avon  quadrangle,  and  at  a  few  points  near  the  west  side  of  the 
Canton.  In  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  former  quadrangle  these  strata 
outcrop  in  the  south  bank  of  Swan  Creek  and  near  the  heads  of  the  tribu- 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  231 

taries  on  the  south  in  the  south  half  of  section  23,  and  in  section  24,  T.  8  N., 
R.  1  W.  They  are  also  exposed  in  the  banks  of  the  creek  north  of  the  wagon 
road  in  the  NW.  *4  section  22  of  the  same  township,  where  the  following 
section  was  made: 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NW.^i  sec.  22,  T.8N.,  R.1W. 

Feet 

6.  Shale,  gray   5 

5.  Limestone,  dark,  septarian,  nodular,  fossiliferous,  with  a  band  of  cone- 

in-cone  structure  at  the  top 1 

4.     Shale,  gray  to  dark 3*4 

3.  Shale,  black,  laminated,  with  pyritic  concretions 2 

2.  Shale,   gray    9J/2 

1.  Coal  (Colchester  or  No.  2) 2 

In  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  Avon  quadrangle,  the  No.  2  coal  has 
been  mined  by  drifts  at  several  places  along  the  streams  in  sections  7,  8,  9, 
15,  16,  17,  and  18,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.  At  the  middle  of  the  north  half  of 
section  18  of  this  township  the  following  section  was  made  where  the  strata 
are  exposed  dipping  gently  toward  the  north. 

Section  of  strata  exposed  near  the  middle  of  the 
N.  y2  sec.  IS,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E. 

Feet 

4.  Shale,  black,  laminated,  with  a  band  of  septarian,  nodular  limestone  near 

the  middle 2]/2 

3.  Shale,  gray  \2l/2 

2.  Coal  (Colchester  or  No.  2)  bed 2*/A 

1 .  Shale,  gray  9 

The  horizon  of  No.  3  coal,  as  described  by  Worthen,  belongs  imme- 
diately below  the  black  laminated  shale  containing  the  band  of  septarian 
nodular  limestone,  but  no  coal  occurs  at  this  horizon  in  any  portion  of  the 
Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles.  The  coal  outcrops  cited  by  Worthen  near 
Marietta,  and  in  the  bed  of  Coal  Creek  3  miles  northwest  of  Fairview,  are 
both  the  Colchester  (No.  2)  coal  of  this  region.  An  outcrop  in  the  banks 
of  a  ravine  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  18,  T.  6  N.,  R.  2  E.,  shows  the  following 
section : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  banks  of  a  ravine 
in  sec.  18,  T.  6  N.,  R.  2  E. 

Feet 

9.     Shale,  gray 7 

8.     Limestone,   concretionary    2/z 

7.  Shale,   gray    3}A 

6.  Shale,  black,  laminated,  with  an  8-inch  band  of  septarian  nodular  lime- 

stone in  the  middle  part 2]/2 

5.  Shale,  gray 12*6 

4.  Coal   (Colchester  or  No.  2) 2^ 

3.  Shale,  gray   4 

2.  Sandstone,  gray,  micaceous,  formerly  quarried  for  local  use 5 

1.     Shale,  and  shaly  sandstone 6 


232  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Strata  similar  to  those  described  in  the  last  section  are  exposed  in  the 
banks  of  the  tributaries  to  Spoon  River  on  the  west  in  sections  1,  12  and 
13,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E. ;  and  also  in  the  banks  of  Lost  Grove  Creek  in  the  SE. 
^4  sec.  27,  and  the  SE.  %  sec.  22,  T.  7  N.,  R.  2  E.  In  the  northeast  quarter 
of  the  Avon  quadrangle  strata  representing  the  same  succession  are  exposed 
in  the  banks  of  a  tributary  of  Coal  Creek  in  the  SE.  %  sec.  22,  T.  8  N., 
R.  2  E.,  where  the  No.  2  coal  has  been  stripped  at  an  altitude  of  about  566 
feet. 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  22,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E. 

Feet 

10.     Shale,  dark,  fissile   4 

9.  Band  of  shaly  pyritic  limestone,  containing  the  fossils,  Derbya  crassa, 
Chonetes  mesolobus,  Productus  cora,  Marginifera  muricata,  Pugnax 
uta,  Ambocoelia  planiconvexa,  Composita  argentea,  Astartella  vera, 
Yoldia    sp.,    Bellerophon    percarinatus,    Schizostoma    catilloides,    and 

Orthoceras  rushense Vs 

8.     Shale,  dark   5 

7.     Shale,  black,  laminated,  with  a  band  of  septarian  nodular  limestone  near 

the  middle Zl/2 

6.     Shale,  gray  and  dark  9 

5.     Coal    (Colchester  or  No.  2) 2]/2 

4.     Shale,  clayey,  bluish-gray   3^ 

3.     Sandstone,  gray   TVz 

2.     Shale,  sandy  with  concretions 3lA 

1.     Shale,  black,  laminated  l^i 

The  Colchester  coal  (No.  2)  has  also  been  mined  by  drifts  in  the  banks 
of  a  creek  northwest  of  London  Mills,  in  the  SW.  %  sec.  28,  and  in  the 
SE.  %  sec.  29,  T.  9  N.,  R.  2  E.,  at  an  altitude  of  about  579  feet.  This  coal 
has  been  stripped  in  a  few  places  near  the  heads  of  the  streams  in  the 
southwest  quarter  sec.  27,  in  the  same  township  at  an  altitude  of  581  feet.  In 
every  place  where  the  septarian  nodular  limestone  was  seen,  it  contained 
numerous  fossils  among  which  pelecypods  were  abundant.  The  fossils 
obtained  from  this  layer  are  listed  below : 


AVON-CANTON  AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM 


233 


Fossils  from  the  septarian  nodular  limestone 


Fossils 


Lophophyllum  profundum  Edwards  and  Haime.... 

Lingula  sp 

Orbiculoidea  cf.  missouriensis  Shumard 

Derbya  crassa  Meek  and  Hayden 

Chonetes  messolobus  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Productus   cora   D'Orbigny 

Productus    costatus    Sowerby 

Marginifera  muricata  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Pugnax  nta  Marcou 

Spirifer  cameratus   Morton 

Spiriferina  kentuckyensis   Shumard 

Squamularia  perplexa  McChesney 

Ambocoelia  planiconvexa   Shumard 

Composita  argentea  Shepard 

Phanerotrema  grayvillensis  Norwood  and  Pratten.. 

Worthenia   tabulata    Conrad 

Trepospira  illinoisensis  Worthen 

Euphemus  carbonarius  Cox 

Petallostium  montfortianum  Norwood  and  Pratten. 

Naticopsis  altonensis  McChesney 

Soleniscus  brevis  White 

Soleniscus  altonensis  Worthen 

Soleniscus    cf.  worthenanus  Miller 

Sphaerodoma  cf.  medialis  Meek  and  Worthen 

Platyceras  parvus  Swallow , 

Sphaerodoma  pondeross  Swallow 

Solenomya  trapezoides  Beede 

Clinopistha  radiata  var.  laevis  Meek  and  Worthen.. 

Cardiomorpha  missouriensis  Shumard 

Nuculopsis  ventricosa  Hall 

Yoldia  rushensis  McChesney , 

Pseudomonotis  sp , 

Myalina  perattenuata  Meek  and  Hayden 

Euchondria  neglecta  Geinitz 

Deltopecten   occidentalis    Shumard 

Pleurophorus  immaturus  Herrick 

Astartella  concentrica   McChesney , 

Orthoceras  rushense  McChesney 

Metacoceras  cf.  sangamonensis  Meek  and  Worthen. 


Near 
Middle 
sec.  12, 
T.  6  N., 
R.  2  E. 


nw.  yA 

sec.  4, 

T.  5  N., 
R.  3  E. 


NW./4 
sec.  35, 


6  N., 
3  E. 


The  black  shale  and  septarian  nodular  limestone  overlying  the  gray- 
shale  above  No.  2  coal  outcrop  in  several  places  near  the  west  side  of  the 
Canton  quadrangle.  The  following  section  was  made  of  the  rocks  exposed 
in  the  banks  of  a  tributary  to  Put  Creek,  near  the  center  of  sec.  12,  T.  6  N., 
R.  2E. 


234  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  12,  T.  6  N.,  R.  2.  E. 

Feet 
11.     Shale,  blue,  the  lower  part  containing  1  to  2-inch  bands  of  clay-iron  stone, 

one  to  two  feet  apart   6 

10.     Shale,  blue  to  black,  with  calcareous  fossiliferous  nodular  bands   18  to 

24  inches   apart    4 

9.     Shale,  black  3 

8.     Layer  of  very  fossiliferous,  septarian,  nodular  limestone,  with  a  2-inch 

band  of  cone-in-cone  at  the  top  2/$ 

7.     Shale,  black  laminated,  with  many  "niggerheads"  y2  to  4  feet  in  diameter 

in  the  lower  part    4 

6.     Shale,  bluish-gray,  clayey   3 

5.  Shale,  blue  to  gray   6 

4.  Coal  (Colchester  or  No.  2  bed) 2V3 

3.     Under  clay,  bluish-gray   3 

2.  Sandstone,  yellowish-gray,  in  layers  respectively  22,  23,  and  8  inches  thick    4^ 

1.  Shale,  gray  6 

Strata  belonging  to  the  same  horizon  as  above,  outcrop  in  an  exposure 
in  the  NE.  %  of  sec.  34,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E.,  as  shown  below : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  34,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E. 

Feet 

6.  Shale,  gray  25 

5.  Shale,  bluish,  the  upper  part  with  1-inch  iron-stone  bands  one  to  one  and 

one-half    feet   apart 9 

4.     Layer  of  septarian,  nodular,   fossiliferous  limestone J/2 

3.  Shale,  black  laminated  with  pyrite  concretions  or  niggerheads... 3 

2.  Shale,  gray  9 

1.  Coal  (Colchester  or  No.  2) 2^ 

Corresponding  strata  are  also  exposed  in  the  SW.  %  of  sec.  7,  T.  6  N., 
R.  3  E. ;  near  the  middle  of  the  N.  %  of  sec.  14,  and  in  the  SE.  %  of  sec. 
23,  T.  6  N.,  R.2E.;  and  in  the  NE.  %  of  sec.  34,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E.  At 
these  places  the  interval  between  the  coal  and  the  septarian  limestone  band 
is  9  to  15  feet,  but  a  few  miles  south  of  the  quadrangle,  in  the  NW.  %  of 
sec.  35,  T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E.,  the  interval  between  these  strata  is  31  feet,  as  shown 
in  the  following  section: 

Section  along  a  tributary  of  Big  Creek  in  the 
NW.  Msec. 35,  T.6N.,  R.3E. 

Feet 

8.     Sandstone  and  sandy  shale 15 

7.     Shale,  dark,  fissile,  with  1-inch  bands  of  iron  stone  1  to  3  feet  apart 5 

6.     Shale,  dark  gray,  with  occasional  1-inch  bands  of  iron  stone  nodules..  ..     6 
5.     Layers    of    septarian   nodular    fossiliferous    limestone,    with   cone-in-cone 

at  top y* 

4.     Shale,  gray  calcareous  with  segments  of  crinoid  columns ^2 

3.     Limestone  band,   crinoidal    V2. 

2.  Shale,   gray    30 

1.     Coal  (Colchester  or  No.  2) 2V2 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  235 

A  few  miles  southwest  of  the  exposure  last  described  a  similar  thick- 
ness of  gray  shale  overlies  the  Colchester  coal  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  4,  T.  5  N., 
R.  3  E.,  as  shown  in  figure  37.     Above  the  septarian  limestone  layer  at  this 


Fig.  37.     View  of  No.  2  coal  and  the  overlying  shale  exposed  between 
Lewiston  and  Cuba. 

place  are  several  feet  of  shale  which  is  followed  by  8  or  10  feet  of  sandstone 
In  the  Canton  quadrangle  a  bed  of  gray  shale  everywhere  lies  above  the 
septarian  limestone  horizon  and  is  followed  by  a  sandstone  of  variable  thick- 
ness. Such  a  section  is  exposed  in  the  south  bank  of  Littlers  Creek  in  the 
NE.  %  sec.  29,  T.  9  N.,  R.  3  E.,  as  shown  below : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  29,  T.  9  N.,  R.  3  E. 

Feet 

4.     Sandstone    5 

3.     Shale,  gray   35 

2.     Layer  of  septarian  nodular  limestone  with  many  fossils 1 

1.     Shale,  black,  laminated  with  concretions  or  niggerheads 2}4 

Strata  between  the  septarian  nodular  limestone  and  the  Springfield 
(No.  5)  coal. — The  thickness  of  the  rocks  occurring  in  the  interval  between 
the  septarian  limestone  associated  with  the  black  shale  overlying  the  Col- 
chester (No.  2)  coal,  and  the  base  of  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  coal,  varies 
from  50  to  85  feet,  being  greatest  towards  the  south  and  east.  This  succes- 
sion of  strata  is  well  shown  in  the  record  of  a  test  boring  for  coal  put  down 
in  the  Blacksby  School  yard  near  the  northwest  corner  of  sec.  24,  T.  6  N., 
R.  3  E.,  a  partial  record  of  which  is  given  below : 


236  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Partial  log  of  boring  made  in  sec.  24,  T.  6  $.,  R.  3  E. 

Feet 

10.     Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5) 5^ 

9.     Clay  shale    2J>< 

8.     Band  of  nodular  limestone   . i 

7.     Shale,  gray   12% 

6.     Sandstone  or  sandy  shale 25 

5.     Shale,   gray    47 

4.     Limestone   septarian,   nodular,    fossiliferous y2 

3.     Shale,   black,   laminated    6 

2.     Shale,   gray    13V2 

1.     Coal  (Colchester  or  No.  2)    2*/2 

Other  borings  put  clown  in  the  NW.  *4  sec.  21,  and  near  the  center 
of  sec.  22,  T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E.,  penetrated  a  similar  succession  of  strata  between 
the  Springfield  coal  and  the  septarian  limestone  above  the  shale  overlying  the 
Colchester  bed.  Strata  belonging  in  this  interval  outcrop  in  several  places 
near  the  west  side  of  the  Canton  quadrangle.  In  the  south  bank  of  Littlers 
Creek  near  the  NW.  corner  of  sec.  28,  T.  9  N.,  R.  3  W.,  there  is  exposed 
above  the  septarian  limestone  a  bed  of  bluish  gray  shale,  35  feet  thick,  under- 
lying 5  feet  of  sandstone.  In  the  banks  of  a  tributary  to  Put  Creek  in  the 
SW.  14  sec.  7,  T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E.,  there  is  exposed  13  feet  of  bluish  shale, 
containing  1-inch  bands  of  ironstone  concretions,  1  to  2  feet  apart,  which 
corresponds  to  the  lower  part  of  member  No.  5  of  the  last  section.  Along 
the  private  road  up  the  hill  south  of  this  exposure  the  Springfield  (No.  5) 
coal  outcrops  at  an  altitude  66  feet  above  the  level  of  the  septarian  nodular 
limestone  in  the  bed  of  the  branch. 

A  bed  of  sandstone  or  sandy  shale  34  feet  thick,  corresponding  to  mem- 
ber No.  6  of  the  last  section,  outcrops  along  the  banks  of  a  tributary  to 
Coal  Creek  in  the  NE.  %  sec.  34,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E.,  where  it  is  followed 
above  by  about  6  feet  of  bluish  shale,  at  the  top  of  which  occurs  a  discon- 
tinuous band  of  clay  ironstone  concretions  which  is  succeeded  by  3  or  4  feet 
of  underclay  lying  below  the  Springfield  coal  bed.  The  underclay  and  under- 
lying band  of  concretions  beneath  the  Springfield  coal  are  exposed  along  Big 
Creek,  and  its  tributaries  in  sections  9,  15,  and  16,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4E.,  and  in 
several  places  along  Put  and  Coal  Creeks  and  their  tributaries. 

Springfield  (No.  5)  coal  and  associated  strata. — The  Springfield  coal  is 
remarkably  persistent  in  its  distribution,  and  uniform  in  thickness  in  all  of 
this  region  east  of  its  line  of  outcrop,  averaging  4%  feet  in  141  well  records, 
and  43  measured  sections,  and  generally  departing  less  than  6  inches  from 
that  average.  In  the  eastern  and  northern  portions  of  the  Canton  area, 
where  the  usual  sequence  of  strata  overlies  this  coal,  the  bed  is  cut  by 
numerous  clay-filled  fissures  (clay  seams  or  ''horsebacks")  such  as  are  char- 
acteristic of  this  coal  in  Sangamon  County  and  in  other  parts  of  the  State. 
In  the  vicinity  of  Cuba  a  sandstone  immediately  overlies  this  coal,  and  where 
such  a  roof  is  present,  no  clay  seams  have  been  developed. 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  237 

Immediately  overlying  the  Springfield  coal  there  generally  occurs  a  bed 
of  black,  laminated  shale,  2  to  6  feet  thick,  in  the  lower  part  of  which  are 
many  "niggerheads"  or  pyrite  concretions  ranging  from  3  or  4  inches  to  as 
many  feet  in  diameter. 

The  succession  of  strata  for  some  distance  above  the  Springfield  coal 
outcrops  along  a  small  tributary  on  the  east  side  of  Big  Creek,  about  40 
rods  south  of  the  middle  of  the  north  line  of  sec.  9,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4  E.,  where 
the  following  section  was  made : 

Section  of  strata  in  sec.  9,  T.  6  N.,  K.  4  E. 

Ft.      In. 

7.     Till,   pebbly    4 

6.     Shale,  gray  to  yellow   16 

5.     Shale,  gray,  soft,  clay  with  fossils 1 

4.  Limestone,   nodular    8 

3.     Shale,  black,  laminated   2 

2.     Coal   (Springfield  or  No.  5)  with  clay  seams 4  9 

1.     Shale,  gray   4 

The  Springfield  coal  and  the  overlying  black,  laminated  shale  are  exposed 
in  many  places  along  Big  Creek  and  its  tributaries  south  of  the  Toledo, 
Peoria  and  Western  railroad.  These  strata  also  outcrop  in  several  places 
along  Put  Creek  and  its  branches  in  the  north  half  of  Putnam  (fig.  38)  and 


Fig.   38.     Photograph  of  Springfield    (No.   5)    coal  exposed  in  stripping  operations 
1V2  miles  north  of  Cuba. 


238  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

the  south  half  of  Joshua  townships.  They  are  also  well  exposed  in  numerous 
places  along  Coal  Creek  and  its  tributaries  in  Fairview  township,  and  in 
sections  7  and  18,  in  Farmington  township.  Still  farther  north  a  similar 
succession  of  strata  outcrops  along  Littlers  Creek  and  it  branches  in  sec- 
tions 21,  22,  27,  28,  35,  and  36,  T.  9  N.,  R.  3  E.,  in  sec.  6,  T.  8  N.,  R.  4  E., 
and  in  sections  31  and  32,  T.  9  N.,  R.  4  E. 

A  typical  exposure  of  these  strata  occurs  along  a  small  tributary  on  the 
east  side  of  Big  Creek  in  the  SE.  14  sec.  9,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4  E.,  where  the 
Springfield  coal  has  been  worked  by  stripping,  on  the  land  of  Geo.  Tyler. 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  9,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4  E. 

Feet 

6.     Shale,    gray    23 

5.     Shale,  gray  calcareous,  with  fossils 1 

4.     Limestone,  impure  nodular   2/3 

3.     Shale,  black,  laminated,  with  niggerheads  in  lower  part 2y2 

2.     Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5) 5 

1.     Shale,  gray  clayey   2 

The  black  laminated  shale,  above  the  Springfield  coal,  usually  contains 
several  fossils,  the  more  common  species  of  which  are  listed  below : 

Fossils  from  the  black  shale  above  Springfield  (No.  5)  Coal 

Lingula  umbonata  Cox 

Orbiculoidea   missouriensis   Shumard 

Derbya  crassa  Meek  and  Hayden 

Chonetes  mesolobus  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Productus  cora  D'Orbigny 

Marginifera  muricata  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Marginifera  splendens  Norwood  and  Pratten(?) 

Squamularia  perplexa  McChesney 

Listracanthus  hystrix  Newberry  and  Worthen 

Petrodus  occidentalis  Newberry  and  Worthen 

The  niggerheads  or  ironstone  nodules  that  occur  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
black,  laminated  shale  above  the  Springfield  coal  furnished  the  following 
fossils : 

Fossils  from  the  "niggerheads"  in  the  black  shale  above 
the  Springfield  (No.  5)  Coal 

Lingula  umbonata  Cox 
Orbiculoidea  missouriensis  Shumard 
Productus  cora  D'Orbigny 
Marginifera  muricata  Norwood  and  Pratten 
Composita  argentea  Shepard 
Solenomya  parallela  Beede  and  Rogers 
Solenomya  trapezoides  Meek 
Cardiomorpha  missouriensis  Shumard 
Edmondia  aspenwallensis  Meek(?) 


AVON-CANTON  AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  239 

Fossils  from  the  "niggerheads"  in  the  black  shale  above 
the  Springfield  (No,  5)  coal — Concluded 

Nuculana  bellistriata  Stevens 
Schizodus  rossicus  de  Verneuil 
Euchondria  neglecta  Geinitz? 
Deltopecten  occidentalis  Shumard 
Pleurophorus  occidentalis  Meek  and  Hayden 
Petallostium  montfortianum  Norwood  and  Pratten 
Soleniscus  illinoisensis  Meek  and  Worthen 
Orthoceras  rushense  McChesney 

The  limestone  cap  rock,  above  the  black,  laminated  shale  is  usually 
present  in  a  single  layer,  9  to  20  inches  thick.  In  places  it  is  somewhat 
concretionary,  and  may  attain  a  thickness  of  3  to  5  feet.  It  is  usually  over- 
lain by  12  to  20  inches  of  bluish-gray,  calcareous  shale,  known  as  "clod." 
Both  the  limestone  and  the  overlying  calcareous  shale  or  "clod"  contain  many 
fossils,  among  which  the  following  are  common  : 

Fossils  from  the  limestone  and  clod  above  the 
Springfield  (No.  5)  coal 


Fossils 

W 

CO 

u 
<u ,  • 

00  CO 

en     - 

CD 
en     r 

.  o 

-CO 
•o     . 

cj     - 

c/5H 

en     r 

.  o 

w 

en      „ 

Lophophyllum  profundum  Edwards  and  Haime 

X 
X 

X 

X 

X 

Eupachycrinus  tuberculatus  Meek  and  Worthen 

Zeacrinus  sp 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 

X 

Derbya  crassa  Meek  and  Hayden 

X 
X 
X 
X 

X 
X 
X 
X 

X 
X 
X 
X 

x 

Chonetes  granulifer  Owen 

Chonetes  mesolobus  Norwood  and  Pratten.  . .  . 

x 

Chonetes  mesolobus  var.  euampygus  Girty 

X 

Chonetes  verneuiliana  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Productus  cora  D'Orbigny 

X 
X 

X 

X 
X 
X 
X 

X 

Productus  costatus  Sowerby 

X 

Productus  semireticulatus  Martin 

X 

Marginifera  muricata  Norwood  and  Pratten 

X 
X 

X 
X 
X 
X 

X 
X 

X 
X 

X 

Marginifera  splendens  Norwood  and  Pratten  (?) 

X 

Pugnax  rockymontana  Marcou 

Pugnax  uta  Marcou 

Spirifer  cameratus  Morton 

X 

X 
X 
X 
X 

X 
X 

X 

Spiriferina  kentuckyensis  Shumard 

X 

Squamularia  perplexa  McChesney 

X 

Ambocoelia  planiconvexa  Shumard 

Hustedia  mormoni  Marcou 

X 

1    x 

1 x 

Cleiothyridina  orbicularis  McChesney 

Composita  argentea  Shepard 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

240 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Fossils  from  the  limestone  and  clod  above  the 
Springfield  (No.  5)  coal — Concluded 


Fossils 

W 

u 

00  rO 

W 

W 
-co 

6    - 

W 

0) 

en    r 

w 

On""* 

CO        » 

*z 

Solenomya  trapezoides  Beede  and  Rogers 

X 
X 

Clinopistha  radiata  var.  laevis  Meek  and  Worthen 

Edmondia  sp. . .        

X 

Nuculopsis  ventricosa  Hall 

X 

Leda  bellistriata  Stevens 

X 

Yoldia  rushensis  McChesney  (?) 

X 

Myalina   perattenuata   Meek  and  Havden 

X 

X 

Aviculopecten  cf.  carboniferus  Stevens 

X 

Allorisma  subcuneatum  Swallow 

X 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 

Allorisma  sp 

Astartella  concentrica  McChesnev 

X 

Phanerotrema  grayvillensis  Norwood  and  Pratten 

X 

Phanerotrema  (?)  brazoensis  Shumard 

X 
X 
X 

Euphemus  carbonarius  Cox 

X 

X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 

Petallostium  montfortianum  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Bulimorpha  nitidula?     Meek   and   Worthen 

X 

Meekospira  peracuta  Meek  and  Worthen 

Sphaerodoma  brevis  White 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 
X 

X 

X 

Griffithides  scitula  Meek  and  Worthen. 

X 

X 

X 

The  Canton  shale  member. — Overlying  the  calcareous  shale  above  the 
limestone  cap  rock  of  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  coal  there  is  usually  a  bed  of 
gray  shale  which  is  exposed  in  several  places  along  Big  Creek  and  its  trib- 
utaries south  of  Canton.  This  shale  may  be  appropriately  designated  the 
"Canton  shale,"  as  a  matter  of  convenience  for  this  report. 

In  the  bank  of  a  small  stream  that  joins  Big  Creek  from  the  east,  near 
the  middle  of  sec.  9,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4  E.,  there  are  exposed  the  following  strata 
which  are  representative  of  the  beds  above  the  Springfield  coal  in  the  east 
and  north  parts  of  the  quadrangle. 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  241 

Section  of  strata  in  sec.  9,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4  E. 

Feet 

5.     Shale,   bluish-gray    22 

4.     Shale  or  "clod,"  bluish  to  gray,  calcareous V/4. 

3.     Limestone,   impure   nodular    2/t, 

2.     Shale,  black,  laminated    2^/4 

1.     Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5),  with  clay  seams. 4^4 

Near  the  city  of  Canton,  the  Canton  shale  member  is  utilized  for  brick 
making  by  M.  Heckard  and  Sons   (fig.  39),  and  the  West  Canton  Paving 


mhk  *M 


-M 


Fig.  39.     Canton  shale,  exposed  in  the  shale  pit  of  M.  Heckard  and  Son, 

near  Canton. 


Brick  Company.  In  the  shale  pit  of  the  latter  company  a  thickness  of  30 
feet  is  dug,  but  the  upper  13  feet  contain  layers  of  sandstone  and  sandy  shale 
that  are  discarded. 

Strata  between  the  Canton  shale  and  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal. — The 
sandstone  above  the  Canton  shale  member  is  well  exposed  in  the  east  bank 
of  Big  Creek,  y^  mile  below  the  bridge  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  and  Western 
Railroad,  where  4  to  6  feet  of  sandstone  are  seen  overlying  14  feet  of 
gray,  sandy  shale.  A  sandstone  generally  overlies  the  Canton  shale  in 
this  region,  and  is  followed  by  6  to  8  feet  of  gray  to  yellow  shale  and  this, 
in  turn  by  1  to  3  feet  of  clay  shale  underlying  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  bed. 
Strata  underlying  the  Herrin  coal  are  exposed  in  a  ravine  near  the  middle 
of  the  S.  Y2  sec.  4,  T.  8  N.,  R.  4  E.,  as  shown  in  the  following  section: 


242  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  S.  rA  sec.  4,  T.  8  N.,  R.  4  E. 

Feet 

7.     Limestone,  gray,  containing  Girtyina  ventricosa , 2 

6.     Shale,   dark    }/2 

5.     Coal,  with  "blueband"  (Herrin  or  No.  6  bed) 4 

4.     Shale,  gray,  clayey 3 

3.     Shale,  sandy 5 

2.     Sandstone,  gray    5 

1.     Shale,  bluish-gray,  to   water   level 7 

Strata  betzveen  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  and  Herrin  (No.  6)  coals  near 
Cuba. — The  thickness  and  character  of  the  strata  occurring  in  the  interval 
between  the  Springfield  and  the  Herrin  coal  beds  in  the  north  part  of  the 
area  are  quite  similar  to  those  in  the  east  half  of  the  Canton  quadrangle,  but 
in,  the  southwest  quarter  of  this  quadrangle  the  interval  between  these  coals 
is  less,  and  the  strata  are  much  more  variable.  In  the  vicinity  of  Cuba  and 
Fiatt  the  Canton  shale  member  is  usually  in  part  or  entirely  absent,  and  the 
limestone  cap  rock  is  often  directly  overlain  by  sandstone.  In  some  places 
the  cap  rock  is  also  absent,  and  the  black  laminated  shale  overlying  the  coal, 
may  also  be  wholly  or  in  part  wanting  (see  fig.  38).  In  these  places  a 
sandstone  rests  directly  upon  the  Springfield  coal,  or  upon  some  level  of  the 
overlying  black  laminated  shale,  or  upon  the  cap  rock  above  the  shale.  In 
rare  cases  all  the  strata  normally  occurring  between  the  Springfield  and 
the  Herrin  coals  are  wanting,  and  more  rarely  a  part  or  all  of  the  Springfield 
coal  is  also  absent. 

The  relations  of  the  strata  in  this  region  are  shown  in  the  following 
detailed  sections : 

The  record  of  a  boring  about  six  miles  southwest  of  Canton  in  the  NE. 
%  sec.  10,  T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E.,  indicates  that  there  the  Herrin  coal  rests  directly 
upon  the  Springfield  bed  as  shown  below : 

Log  of  boring  in  the  NE.yAsec.lO,  T.6N.,  R.3E. 

Feet 

Soil  and  clay 31 

Shale   19 

Sandstone 3 

Shale   4y2 

Limestone    \l/z 

Shale    y3 

Coal 10 

Clay,  shale,  and  sandstone   22/$ 

About  two  miles  southwest  of  the  boring  described  above,  a  thickness 
of  714  feet  of  strata  occurs  between  these  coals,  as  shown  in  the  following 
section : 


AVON-CANTON  AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  243 

Section  of  strata  exposed  along  a  stream  in  SE.  %  sec.  8, 
T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E. 

Feet 
8.     Limestone,  gray,  in  layers  6  to  10  inches  thick,  containing  Girtyina  ven- 

tricosa  and  other  fossils   4 

7.  Shale,  dark  gray ]A, 

6.  Coal   (Herrin  or  No.  6  bed),  with  a  2-inch  "blueband"   14  inches  above 

the    bottom    4 

5.  Shale,  gray,  clay V2 

4.  Sandstone,  yellowish-gray,  micaceous 5 

3.  Shale,   black,   laminated    2 

2.  Coal   (Springfield  or  No.  5  bed) W2 

1.  Gray  clay  shale  V/2 

In  a  ravine  about  %  mile  west  of  the  place  where  the  last  section  was 
made  an  interval  of  16  feet  was  measured  between  these  coals,  as  shown  in 
the  section  given  below  : 

Section  of  strata  in  the  SW.  %  SE.  %  sec.  8,  T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E. 

Feet 
9.     Shale,  gray  2 

8.  Limestone,  gray,  in  layers  4  to  8  inches  thick,  containing  Girtyina  ven- 

tricosa  and  other  fossils  4 

7.  Shale,  dark  gray \l/2 

6.  Coal  (Herrin  or  No.  6  bed),  with  "blueband"  \l/2  inches  thick  14  inches 

above  the  bottom Sl/t 

5.  Concealed,   about    8 

4.  Limestone,  gray,  nodular   1 

3.  Shale,  black,  laminated  7 

2.  Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5)  bed 4^ 

1.  Shale,  gray,  clayey \y2 

About  half  a  mile  west  of  the  exposure  last  described,  in  the  SW.  % 
sec.  8,  of  the  same  township  the  following  succession  of  strata  outcrop  in  the 
west  bank  of  a  creek : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  SW.  J4  of  sec.  8,  T.6N.,  R.3E. 

Feet 

4.  Sandstone,  yellowish-gray,  micaceous 9 

3.  Shale,   bluish-gray,   calcareous,   with  nodules   of   limestone,   probably  the 

residual  part  of  the  decomposed  cap  rock 1 

2.  Shale,   black,    laminated 2l/2 

1.     Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5  bed) 4^ 

In  several  places  in  the  banks  of  this  creek,  both  north  and  south  of 
mine  No.  2  of  the  Star  Coal  Company,  a  sandstone  equivalent  to  the  upper 
member  in  the  last  section  is  exposed  above  the  black  shale  overlying  the 
Springfield  coal.  Frequent  outcrops  of  these  strata  also  occur  in  the  SW. 
Y^  sec.  7,  T.  6  N.,  R.  3  E.  Along  a  ravine  Vo  mile  south  and  y2  mile  west 
of  the  cemetery  at  Cuba  the  interval  between  the  top  of  the  Springfield 
coal  and  the  bottom  of  the  Herrin  bed  is  22  feet.     A  boring  put  down  a 


244  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

short  distance  south  of  the  northeast  corner  of  section  20,  in  Putnam  town- 
ship, showed  about  35  feet  of  sandstone  and  shale  between  these  coals  as 
follows : 

Log  of  boring  near  the  NE.  comer  of  sec.  20,  T.6N.,  R.3E. 

Feet 

Soil  and  clay    18 

Clod    1 

Coal  (Herrin  or  No.  6  bed)    5*4 

Shale,  gray 6 

Sandstone,   hard    2%l/2 

Shale,  black    1 

Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5  bed) 5 

A  boring  near  the  center  of  section  29  of  the  same  township  found 
no  coal  where  the  Springfield  bed  should  occur  below  14  feet  of  sandstone. 
Another  boring  in  the  northeast  %  °f  section  28  of  this  township  found 
thej  Springfield  coal  only  3  feet  thick,  below  25  feet  of  sandy  shale.  Along 
a  stream  half  a  mile  to  a  mile  north  of  Fiatt  Station,  in  sections  21  and 
28,  T.  7  N.,  R.  3  E.,  a  bed  of  sandstone  lies  very  close  to  the  top  of  the 
Springfield  coal,  as  shown  in  an  exposure  in  the  SE.  1/4  sec.  21,  where  the 
following  section  was  made : 

Section  of  strata  outcropping  in  the  SE.%  of  sec.  21,  T.7N.,  R.3E. 

Feet 

4.     Sandstone,  yellowish-gray,  micaceous    5 

3.     Shale,  black,  laminated,  in  places  cut  out  so  that  the  sandstone  rests  di- 
rectly upon  the  coal,  but  usual  thickness  of \l/2 

2.  Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5  bed) 5 

1.  Clay  shale 1 

At  a  place  where  the  Springfield  coal  was  formerly  mined  along  a 
ravine  in  the  NW.  *4  section  28  of  the  same  township,  the  following  suc- 
cession of  strata  are  exposed : 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  the  NW.  l4.  sec.  28,  T.7  N.,  R.3E. 

Feet 

3.  Sandstone,  yellowish-gray,  micaceous   6 

2.  Shale,  black  laminated   2 

1     Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5  bed) 5 

The  unusual  variation  in  the  succession  and  thickness  of  the  strata  be- 
tween the  Springfield  and  Herrin  coals  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  the 
Canton  quadrangle,  as  shown  in  the  foregoing  sections,  indicates  local  warp- 
ing and  erosion  in  this  region  which  probably  occurred  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  time  of  deposition  of  the  strata  of  this  interval,  after  the  Can- 
ton shale  member  was  laid  down.  It  is  thought  that  the  sandstone  that 
north  of  Cuba  immediately  overlies  the  Springfield  coal,  or  some  level  of 
the  black,  laminated  shale  or  the  overlying  cap-rock,  represents  the  same 
sandstone  that  lies  above  the  Canton  shale  in  the  east  and  north  parts  of 
the  Canton  quadrangle. 


AVON-CANTON   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM 


245 


Herrin  (No.  6)  coal. — The  Herrin  coal,  which  is  the  youngest  mem- 
ber of  the  Carbondale  formation,  is  present  over  35  or  40  square  miles  in 
the  northeast  quarter  of  the  Canton  quadrangle,  extending  south  within  2 
miles  of  Canton  and  west  as  far  as  Fairview.  It  is  also  present  in  small 
patches  northeast  of  Cuba  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  this  quadrangle.  The 
approximate  outcrop  of  this  coal  in  the  area  is  indicated  on  the  structure 
map,  Plate  I.  The  Herrin  coal  is  4  to  S}4  feet  thick,  and  is  distinguished 
by  a  band  of  dark,  shaly  or  bony  coal  ("blue  band")  one  to  two  inches 
thick,  thirteen  to  fifteen  inches  above  the  floor  of  the  bed. 

MCLEANSBORO    FORMATION 

General  character  of  the  rocks. — The  McLeansboro  formation,  which 
embraces  all  of  the  Pennsylvanian  strata  above  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal, 
was  named  from  the  town  of  McLeansboro,  in  Hamilton  County,  where 
the  strata  belonging  to  this  formation  have  a  thickness  of  1,000  or  more 
feet.  They  consist  largely  of  shale  and  sandstone,  with  some  thin  lime- 
stones and  a  few  coals,  none  of  which  is  of  workable  thickness.  The  max- 
imum known  thickness  of  this  formation  in  the  Canton  quadrangle  is  about 
85  feet. 


Fig. 


40.     Herrin    (No.   6)    coal  and  cap-rock,   exposed  along  Copperas   Creek, 
2  miles  east  of  Brereton. 


Strata  between  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  and  the  No.  7  coals. — The  Herrin 
coal    (see   fig.   40)    in   this   are   is   generally   overlain   by   a   bluish   to   dark 


246 


YEAR   ROOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


calcareous  shale  6  to  14  inches  thick,  above  which  is  a  bed  of  gray  lime- 
stone 3 1/2  to  4  feet  thick,  containing  Girtyina  ventricosa  and  other  fossils 
listed  below: 

Fossils  from  the  limestone  above  the  Herrin  coal 


Fossils 


Girtyina  ventricosa  Meek  and  Hayden 

Lophophyllum  profundum  Edwards  and  Haime 

Zeacrinus  mucrospinus  McChesney 

Derbya  crassa  Meek  and  Hayden 

Chonetes  granulifer  Owen 

Chonetes  mesolobus  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Chonetes  verneuiliana  Norwood  and  Pratten. .  . 

Productus  cora  D'Orbigny 

Productus  costatus  Sowerby 

Productus  cf.  pertenuis  Meek 

Productus  semireticulatus  Martin 

Pustula  semipunctata  (Martin) 

Marginifera  muricata  Norwood  and  Pratten. . . . 
Marginifera  splendens  Norwood  and  Pratten.  .  . 

Pugnax  uta  Marcou 

Spirifer  cameratus  Morton 

Spiriferina  kentuckyensis  Shumard 

Squamularia  perplexa  McChesney 

Hustedia  mormoni  Marcou 

Cleiothyridina  orbicularis  McChesney 

Composita  argentea  Shepard 

Petrodus  occidentalis  Newberry  and  Worthen.  . 


iflW 

w 

w 

to 

Near  Middle 
N.  Y2  sec.  1, 
T.  8  N.,  R.  3 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

? 

? 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

X 

•• 

w 


;g 


.  00 


Overlying  the  limestone  cap  rock  of  the  Herrin  coal  there  is  usually 
10  to  15  feet  of  shale  which  is  followed  by  a  few  feet  of  sandstone  and 
this  in  turn  by  about  14  feet  of  gray  and  blue  shale,  some  parts  of  which 
are  mottled  with  pink  and  red.  This  shale  is  overlain  by  No.  7  coal  which 
has  a  thickness  of  about  eighteen  inches.  The  interval  between  the  Her- 
rin (No.  6),  coal  and  No.  7  coal  is  33  to  36  feet.  All  of  the  strata  of  this 
interval  are  penetrated  in  test  borings  near  the  east  border  of  the  north- 
east quarter  of  the  quadrangle.  They  are  well  exposed  in  the  south  bank 
of  a  creek  in  the  NW.  %  of  sec.  1,  T.  7  N.,  R.  4  E.,  where  the  following 
section  was  made: 


AVON-CANTOX   AREA:      PENNSYLVANIAN    SYSTEM  247 

Section  of  strata  exposed  in  sec.  1,  T.  7  N '.,  R.  4  E. 

Feet 

9.     Coal  (No.  7)   V/2 

8.     Shale,  gray  and  red   14 

7.     Sandstone,  micaceous  gray   3 

6.     Shale,  gray,  more  or  less  sandy 12 

5.     Limestone,  gray,  in  layers  4  to  30  inches  thick,  containing  Girtyina  ven- 

tricosa  and  other  fossils   5 

4.     Shale,  gray  to  dark l/2 

3.     Coal  (Herrin  or  No.  6  bed),  with  a  2-inch  "blueband"  16  inches  above 

the  floor   4^ 

2.     Shale,  gray  to  blue  clayey  3J-4 

1.     Sandstone,  and  sandy  shale   6 

No.  7  coal  and  overlying  strata. — The  thin  No.  7  coal,  overlying  the 
gray  and  red  shale,  is  9  to  20  inches  thick  and  is  not  utilized  in  any  place 
in  this  area.  In  the  vicinity  of  Farmington  there  are  present  above  the 
No.  7  coal  about  40  feet  of  gray  shale,  followed  by  10  or  12  feet  of  dark 
shale  which  is  overlain  by  6  or  8  feet  of  gray  limestone,  occurring  in  two 
ledges  separated  by  12  to  18  inches  of  gray  calcareous  shale.  This  limestone 
is  correlated  with  the  Lonsdale  limestone  of  the  Peoria  region.  It  is  present 
only  over  a  limited  area  of  the  upland  in  the  northeast  quarter  of  the  Canton 


Fig.  41.     Lonsdale  limestone,  exposed  in  an  old  quarry  2y2  miles 
east  of  Farmington. 


248  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

quadrangle.     It  outcrops  along  a  small  stream  two  and  one-half  miles  east 
of  Farmington  where  the  following  strata  are  exposed,  as  shown  in  figure  41 : 

Section  of  strata  2y2  miles  east  of  Farmington 

Feet 

7.    Loess    3 

6.     Till,   yellowish    4 

5.     Shale,   gray    4 

4.     Limestone,  gray,  in  rough,  uneven  layers  8  to  12  inches  thick 5 

3.     Shale,  gray,  calcareous,  with  small  calcareous  nodules 7 

2.     Limestone,  gray 4 

1.     Shale,  dark   7^ 

The  following  fossils  were  collected  from  this  limestone : 

Fossils  from  the  Lonsdale  limestone  exposed  2l/2  miles  east  of  Farmington 

Lophophyllum  profundum  Edwards  and  Haime 

Campophyllum  torquin  Owen 

Eupachycrinus  tuberculatus  Meek  and  Worthen 

Derbya  crassa  Meek  and  Hayden 

Chonetes  granulifer  Owen 

Chonetes  mesolobus  Norwood  and  Pratten 

Productus  cf.  punctatus  Martin 

Productus  semireticulatus  Martin 

Pustula  semipunctata  Martin 

Marginifera   splendens   Norwood  and   Pratten 

Rhynchonella  illinoisensis  Worthen 

Pugnax  uta  Marcou 

Cryptacanthia  compacta  White  and  St.  John 

Dielasma  bovidens   Morton 

Spirifer  cameratus  Morton 

Spiriferina  kentuckyensis  Shumard 

Squamularia  perplexa  McChesney 

Hustedia  mormoni  Marcou 

Cleiothyridina  orbicularis  McChesney 

Composita  argentea  Shepard 

Straparollus   (?)   sp. 

Loxonema  (  ?)  sp. 

Strophostylus  peoriense  McChesney 

Strophostylus  cf.  remex  Whke 

Griffithides  scitula  Meek  and  Worthen 

The  limestone  described  above  is  the  youngest  of  the  Pennsylvanian 
rocks  known  in  the  quadrangle.  It  corresponds  to  the  limestone  worked  in 
the  Lonsdale  quarry,  a  few  miles  farther  east  in  Peoria  County,  and  is  the 
equivalent  of  the  limestone  outcropping  along  Rock  Creek  in  Menard  County. 

Structure 

The  term  structure  refers  to  the  attitude  of  the  rocks,  that  is,  whether 
horizontal,  inclined,  folded,  or  faulted;   and  to  the  direction  and  amount  of 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:       STRUCTURE  249 

displacement  of  the  faults,  and  the  direction  and  the  amount  of  inclination 
or  dip  of  the  strata.  A  knowledge  of  the  structure  of  the  coal  beds  and 
associated  strata  in  any  locality  is  essential  to  an  intelligent  estimate  of  the 
cost  of  mining,  and  the  wise  selection  of  the  location  for  mine  shafts.  The 
deformation  and  dip  of  the  coal  beds,  as  well  as  the  character  of  the  asso- 
ciated strata,  very  materially  affect  the  expense  of  drainage,  and  the  cost  of 
timbering  and  haulage. 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

The  structure  of  the  strata  in  the  Avon  quadrangle,  and  in  that  portion 
(No.  5)  coal,  as  shown  on  the  structure  map,  is  based  on  the  elevation  of 
No.  2  coal  above  sea  level.  The  data  were  obtained  mainly  from  the  eleva- 
tion of  outcrops  of  this  coal,  as  determined  by  leveling  with  hand  level  to  the 
nearest  bench  mark,  and  from  the  records  of  water  wells  and  test  borings 
in  which  this  bed  was  encountered.  The  elevation  at  which  No.  2  coal 
should  occur,  if  it  had  been  present,  was  also  obtained  at  several  points  by 
adding  to  the  elevation  of  No.  1  coal,  as  determined  in  outcrops  and  borings, 
a  number  corresponding  to  the  thickness  of  the  strata  occurring  between 
No.  1  coal  and  No.  2  coal,  which  in  this  part  of  the  state  is  about  56  feet. 

The  structure  of  the  strata  in  that  portion  of  the  Canton  quadrangle 
east  of  the  line  of  outcrop  of  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  coal,  as  shown  on  the 
structure  map,  Plate  I,  of  this  report,  is  based  on  the  Springfield  (No.  5) 
coal.  The  data  for  the  construction  of  this  portion  of  the  map  were  obtained, 
for  the  most  part,  from  the  elevation  of  the  Springfield  coal  at  the  numerous 
outcrops  and  from  the  logs  of  water  wells,  test  borings,  and  mine  shafts 
which  pass  through  this  coal,  as  in  the  altitude  determinations  of  No.  2  coal. 
In  the  places  where  outcrops  of  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  occur,  the  eleva- 
tion of  this  coal  was  found  by  leveling  to  the  nearest  bench  mark.  The 
elevation  of  the  Springfield  coal  at  those  places  was  then  computed  by  sub- 
tracting from  the  elevation  of  the  Herrin  coal  a  number  corresponding  to 
the  thickness  of  the  strata  occurring  between  the  Springfield  and  the  Herrin 
coals.  In  the  eastern  and  northern  portions  of  the  Canton  quadrangle,  this 
interval  does  not  vary  far  from  65  feet,  but  in  the  southwest  quarter  the 
interval  is  very  much  less. 

The  coal  beds,  and  the  intervals  between  them  vary  somewhat  in  thick- 
ness, yet  over  the  greater  part  of  the  area  the  strata  lie  essentially  parallel. 
The  layers  are  not  generally  horizontal,  but  dip  in  different  directions  and 
at  various  angles  in  different  parts  of  the  quadrangle.  The  general  dip  and 
altitude  of  No.  2  coal,  and  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  bed  in  different  places 
are  shown  on  the  structure  map  by  the  use  of  contour  lines.  The  outcrops 
and  the  locations  of  the  borings  and  shafts,  the  records  of  which  furnished 
data  used  in  the  construction  of  the  structure  map,  are  shown  on  the  geo- 
logic map,  Plate  I. 


250  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Between  adjacent  points  at  which  the  coal  was  found  to  lie  at  different 
altitudes,  the  dip  is  assumed  to  be  uniform.  Hence  on  the  structure  map,  a 
line  connecting  all  the  known  points  at  which  No.  2  coal  occurs  at  an  ele- 
vation of  580  feet  above  sea  level,  constitutes  the  580-foot  contour  line.  In 
the  same  manner  all  of  the  points  at  which  this  coal  was  found  to  lie  600 
feet  above  the  sea,  are  connected  by  the  600- foot  contour  line,  and  so  on.  A 
dip  of  20  feet  is  indicated  between  any  two  adjacent  contour  lines. 

The  assumption  of  a  uniform  dip  for  the  coal  bed  between  points  where 
it  is  found  at  different  elevations  is  a  source  of  slight  error  in  a  map  con- 
structed in  this  manner.  Local  changes  in  the  dip  of  the  strata,  and  low 
domes  and  folds  were  found  in  some  of  the  coal  mines,  and  seen  in  a  few 
surface  exposures.  The  details  of  these  local  irregularities  of  small  magni- 
tude do  not  appear  on  a  structure  map  of  this  kind. 

The  probability  of  error  in  the  map  is  greater  where  the  outcrops, 
mine  shafts,,  and  test  holes  of  which  records  were  obtained  are  a  considerable 
distance  apart,  as  over  the  inter  stream  areas  east  of  Spoon  River,  between 
Coal  Creek  and  Littlers  Creek  on  the  north,  and  Coal  Creek  and  Put  Creek 
on  the  south ;  and  west  of  the  river,  between  Swan  and  Cedar  creeks  on 
the  north  and  Shaw  and  Shoal  creeks  on  the  south.  Over  such  areas  where 
the  data  are  not  sufficient  to  give  reasonably  certain  information  concerning 
the  structure,  the  contour  lines  are  broken.  However,  it  is  practically  certain 
that  the  general  lay  of  the  coals,  and  thus  the  general  structure  of  the 
Pennsylvanian  rocks  in  this  area,  is  essentially  as  shown  on  the  structure 
map.  From  this  map  it  will  be  seen  that  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  Canton 
quadrangle,  the  rocks  have  a  general,  rather  gentle  dip  in  an  eastward 
direction.  A  somewhat  irregular  dome  in  the  southwest  quarter  of  this 
area  is  continued  eastward  as  a  low  anticline  along  the  southern  part  of  the 
quadrangle.  A  more  pronounced  dome  in  the  northwest  quarter  is  also  con- 
tinued eastward  as  a  small  arch  near  the  town  of  Farmington.  In  the  Avon 
quadrangle,  the  rocks  also  have  a  general  eastward  dip,  which  is  disturbed 
in  the  northwest  quarter  by  an  anticline  trending  nearly  north  and  south 
to  the  elbow  of  Swan  Creek  whence  it  continues  toward  the  southeast  beyond 
Babylon.  The  structure  becomes  quite  irregular  on  the  southern  part  of  the 
Avon  quadrangle  where  a  small  arch  is  formed  on  the  west  side  of  the  low 
domelike  structure  that  extends  into  the  southwest  quarter  of  this  quadrangle 
from  the  Canton  area.  The  average  dip  of  the  strata  in  these  areas  probably 
does  not  exceed  10  feet  per  mile,  although  in  places  the  inclination  is  as 
much  as  40  or  more  feet  per  mile. 

PRACTICAL  USE  OF  THE  STRUCTURE   MAP 

The  practical  value  of  the  accompanying  structure  map,  Plate  I,  will 
appear  from  the  fact  that,  when  used  in  connection  with  the  topographic 
map  of  the  area,  the  approximate  depth  below  the  surface  of  Murphysboro 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:       STRUCTURE  251 

(No.  2)  coal  or  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  bed  at  any  point  over  the  respective 
areas  in  which  one  or  the  other  is  used  as  the  key  stratum,  may  be  readily 
ascertained.  On  the  structure  map,  the  distribution  of  the  Springfield  coal 
is  shown,  and  also  the  area  underlain  by  No.  2  coal,  outside  the  area  of  the 
Springfield  bed.  From  the  contour  lines  on  this  map  the  elevation  above  sea 
level  of  No.  2  coal,  or  the  Springfield  (No.  5)  coal,  in  the  respective  areas 
at  any  point  can  be  readily  found.  The  topographic  map  shows  by  contour 
lines  the  height  above  sea  level  of  the  surface  of  the  area.  From  this  map 
the  surface  elevation  of  any  point  in  the  quadrangles  can  be  approximately 
determined.  Subtracting  from  this  surface  elevation  the  altitude  of  No.  2 
coal,  or  No.  5  coal,  at  that  place,  as  found  from  the  structure  map,  the 
remainder  will  represent  the  approximate  depth  of  the  coal  bed  beneath  the 
surface  at  that  point. 

The  direction  of  dip  of  the  strata  is  assumed  to  be  at  right  angles  to 
the  contour  lines.  The  steepness  of  the  slope  is  indicated  by  the  distance 
between  adjacent  contour  lines.  A  difference  in  elevation  of  20  feet  is 
shown  by  adjacent  lines,  so  that  the  closer  together  the  lines  appear,  the 
steeper  is  the  dip,  and  the  wider  the  distance  between  the  lines  the  more 
gentle  is  the  slope  of  the  strata  in  that  region. 

MINERAL  RESOURCES 

Besides  the  soil,  which  is  the  greatest  source  of  wealth  in  the  area,  and 
the  water  which  is  indispensable,  coal  is  the  most  important  natural  resource 
of  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles.  Four  different  coal  beds  are  in 
places  worked  in  this  area,  and  there  is  scarcely  a  square  mile  that  is  not 
underlain  by  one  or  more  workable  beds.  Next  to  coal  in  importance  are 
clay  and  shale,  the  supply  of  which  is  practically  inexhaustible.  Sand, 
gravel,  and  building  stone  occur  in  some  places,  and  oil  and  gas  may  possibly 
also  be  present. 

Coal 

The  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles  lie  in  the  northwest  part  of  the 
Eastern  Interior  coal  basin  (see  fig.  33),  in  the  region  in  which  the  Herrin 
and  Springfield  coal  beds  are  about  equal  in  thickness.  During  the  year 
1920  the  coal  mined  in  this  area  inclusive  of  a  belt  less  than  one  mile  wide 
bordering  the  south  side,  aggregated  about  2,220,000  tons,  more  than  95% 
per  cent  of  which  was  produced  by  the  25  commercial  (shipping)  mines, 
19  of  which  were  within  the  borders  of  the  Canton  quadrangle.  Besides 
these  shipping  mines  there  were  60  odd  local  (wagon)  mines,  mostly  drifts 
and  strippings,  that  were  worked  during  only  a  small  part  of  the  year. 

Practically  all  of  the  coal  output  of  the  Canton  quadrangle  is  taken 
from  the  Springfield  bed,  but  in  a  few  places  near  the  eastern  side  of  the 
quadrangle  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  coal  is  in  places  also  worked  to  supply  local 


252  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

trade.     In  the  Avon  quadrangle  the   Rock   Island    (No.    1)    and  the   Col- 
chester (No.  2)  beds  furnish  all  of  the  coal. 

POTTSVILLE  COALS 
ROCK    ISLAND    (NO.    1)    COAL 

The  most  important  coal  in  the  Pottsville  formation  is  the  Rock  Island 
bed  which  is  thought  to  be  the  equivalent  of  the  coal  mined  in  Rock  Island 
County,  Illinois,  and  of  the  "Pocket"  coal  lying  50  to  70  feet  below  the 
top  of  the  Pottsville  in  Jackson  County,  and  is  also  probably  about  the 
age  of  the  Mercer  coal  of  the  Appalachian  region.  It  is  well  known  in  its 
outcrops  along  Spoon  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Seville  where  its  thickness  is 
3  to  4y2  feet.  It  has  been  mined  in  a  small  way  at  a  few  places  near 
Seville,  and  is  at  present  worked  by  a  drift  at  Leaman  Station  a  few  miles 
farther  southwest  where  the  thickness  is  2y2  feet.  In  the  vicinity  of 
Ellisville,  where  this  coal  is  4  to  5  feet  thick,  it  is  worked  by  the  Riverview 
Coal  Company  in  a  shaft  about  40  feet  deep.  The  only  commercial  mine 
in  the  area  at  present  working  this  coal  is  that  of  the  Spoon  River  Coal 
Company  at  Ellisville  Station.  The  depth  to  the  coal  at  this  place  is  about 
35  feet,  and  the  thickness  of  the  bed  3  to  5%  feet.  The  Rock  Island  coal 
is  also  mined  by  a  slope  in  the  SW.  ^  sec.  10,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E.,  where  its 
thickness  averages  about  4  feet.  It  is  worked  by  drifts  in  several  places 
along  Aylesworth  branch  and  its  tributaries  in  sees.  11  and  14,  T.  7  N., 
R.  1  E.,  and  farther  south  in  the  vicinity  of  Babylon.  At  London  Mills, 
where  this  coal  is  34  inches  thick,  it  is  worked  intermittently  in  a  shaft  mine 
45  feet  deep. 

Where  the  bed  is  well  developed  this  coal  is  of  good  quality,  but  on 
account  of  its  irregularity  in  thickness,  varying  from  1  to  6  feet  within 
relatively  short  distances,  it  has  not  been  extensively  worked.  The  Rock 
Island  coal  is  generally  present  in  this  region  except  over  a  few  square  miles 
near  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Avon  quadrangle,  from  which  it  has  been 
eroded,  and  smaller  areas,  as  in  sec.  13,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and  sec.  18,  T.  8  N., 
R.  1  E.,  over  which  it  seems  never  to  have  been  deposited.  It  usually  lies 
about  45  feet  above  the  base  and  35  to  55  feet  below  the  top  of  the  Pottsville 
formation  in  this  region,  although  in  some  records  it  is  reported  as  not 
more  than  25  feet  below  the  No.  2  bed.  This  coal  is  usually  overlain  by 
a  hard  limestone  which  furnishes  an  excellent  roof. 

COAL  BELOW   THE   ROCK  ISLAND    (NO.    1)    BED 

In  a  number  of  places  in  the  Avon  quadrangle  a  coal  bed  1  to  2V2  ieet 
thick  is  present  only  a  few  feet  below  the  Rock  Island  bed,  and  is  usually 
overlain  by  sandstone.  This  coal  has  been  mined  by  drifts  in  a  few  places,  as 
in  sec.  31,'  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  E,  sec.  13,  T.8N,  R.  1  W.,  and  sec.  18,  T.8N., 
R.  1  E.    At  the  latter  locality  the  bed  is  about  14  inches  thick  and  resembles 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      COAL    RESOURCES  253 

cannel  coal.  Many  years  ago  it  was  extensively  worked  for  the  distillation 
of  coal  oil,  in  which  process  10  retorts  were  at  one  time  in  operation. 
Thirty  gallons  of  oil  are  said  to  have  been  produced  from  one  ton  of  coal. 
At  that  time  the  clay  underlying  the  coal  was  also  mined  and  manufactured 
into  fire  brick.1  A  coal  bed  belonging  to  this  horizon  is  also  well  exposed 
in  the  banks  of  Cedar  Creek  in  sees.  23  and  26,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  W. 

COALS  BETWEEN  THE  ROCK   ISLAND    (NO.    1)    AND   COLCHESTER    (NO.   2)    BEDS 

In  some  places  in  this  region  two  coal  beds  aggregating  about  3  feet 
in  thickness  and  separated  by  3  to  6  feet  of  shale,  occur  8  to  15  feet  above 
the  Rock  Island  coal.  Another  very  persistent  coal,  10  to  14  inches  thick, 
is  generally  present  about  25  to  28  feet  above  the  Rock  Island  bed,  and  is 
overlain  by  several  feet  of  soft  shale.  None  of  these  coals  has  been  worked 
in  this  region. 

CARBONDALE  COALS 
COLCHESTER    ( NO.   2)    COAL 

The  lowest  coal  bed  of  the  Carbondale  formation  is  the  No.  2,  which 
is  possibly  identical  with  the  Murphysboro  coal  in  Jackson  County,  although 
in  the  Avon  quadrangle  it  is  nowhere  divided  into  two  benches  as  it  com- 
monly is  in  the  vicinity  of  Murphysboro.  It  apparently  corresponds  with 
the  bed  mined  at  Colchester,  and  probably  with  the  "third  vein"  coal  near 
La  Salle,  and  with  No.  2  coal  in  the  vicinity  of  Morris  and  Braidwood,  in 
the  northeast  part  of  the  Illinois  coal  basin.  The  Colchester  coal  is  gen- 
erally present  in  this  region  except  in  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Avon 
quadrangle  from  which  it  has  been  removed  by  erosion.  It  is  remarkably 
uniform  in  thickness,  ranging  from  28  to  32  inches,  and  known  locally  as 
the  "30-inch"  bed.  This  bed  supplies  most  of  the  coal  used  in  the  towns 
of  St.  Augustine,  Avon,  and  Prairie  City.  It  has  been  mined  by  drifts  in 
many  places  along  Swan  Creek  and  its  tributaries  west  of  Avon,  in  sees. 
23  and  26,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W.  At  the  latter  locality  the  coal  was  28  inches 
thick  and  was  formerly  worked  by  means  of  a  shaft  53  feet  deep.  The 
shale  overlying  the  coal  was  also  mined  and  manufactured  into  brick. 

In  many  places  along  Shaw  and  Shoal  creeks  and  their  branches,  this 
coal  has  been  and  is  at  present  mined  by  drifts  to  supply  local  demand. 
In  the  eastern  part  of  the  Avon  quadrangle  a  number  of  drift  mines  also 
work  this  bed  in  sees.  28  and  29,  T.  9  N.,  R.  2  E.,  and  it  has  been  stripped 
in  a  few  places  along  the  streams  in  sec.  22,  T.  8  N.,  R.  2  E.,  and  in  the 
SW.  %  sec.  27,  T.  7  N.,  R.  2  E.  The  coal  is  overlain  by  12  to  20  feet  or 
more  of  soft  shale  which  makes  a  very  troublesome  roof. 

NO.   3   COAL 

The  position  of  the  No.  3  coal  bed  described  by  Worthen  in  the 
geology  of   Fulton  County  appears  to  be  immediately  associated  with  the 


iWorthen,  A.  H.,  Geological  Survey  of  Illinois,  vol.  IV,  p.  105,   1870. 


254  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

septarian  nodular  limestone  about  12  to  20  feet  above  the  Colchester  (No.  2) 
bed,  but  no  coal  is  present  at  this  horizon  in  the  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles. 

no.  4  COAL 

The  coal  in  this  region  described  by  Worthen  as  No.  4  corresponds  to 
the  bed  that  is  known  as  No.  5  or  Springfield  coal  over  the  greater  part  of 
the  State.  The  Springfield  coal  in  this  region  is  generally  about  65  feet 
below  the  Herrin.  North  of  Cuba,  Worthen  found  a  coal,  4  feet  thick,  about 
30  feet  below  the  Herrin  bed,  and  thought  that  this  represented  a  coal 
belonging  between  the  coal  65  feet  below  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  bed  north  of 
Canton  and  the  Herrin  coal.  Hence,  he  called  the  coal  north  of  Cuba,  30 
feet  below  the  Herrin  bed,  No.  5  coal,  and  the  coal  in  the  vicinity  of  Can- 
ton, 65  feet  below  the  Herrin  bed,  No.  4 H  coal.  It  is  now  known  that 
locally  erosion  occurred  during  some  part  of  the  time  of  deposition  of  the 
sediments  usually  present  between  the  Springfield  and  the  Herrin  coals, 
which  in  places,  as  in  the  vicinity  of  Cuba,  removed  a  large  part  of  the 
strata  that  generally  occur  in  this  interval,  and  that  the  coal  north  of  Cuba, 
Worthen's  No.  5,  ranging  from  a  few  to  30  or  more  feet  below  the  Herrin 
is  the  equivalent  of  the  Springfield  coal  65  feet  below  the  Herrin  coal  in 
the  vicinity  of  Canton  which  Worthen  called  No.  4  coal. 

SPRINGFIELD    (NO.   5)    COAL 

The  Springfield  coal,  known  as  No.  5,  furnishes  practically  all  of  the 
coal  mined  in  the  Canton  quadrangle,  only  a  few  local  mines  being  operated 
in  the  Herrin  (No.  6)  bed  during  a  small  part  of  the  year.  This  bed  is  the 
equivalent  of  the  coal  mined  in  the  vicinity  of  Springfield,  and  probably  cor- 
responds with  the  Harrisburg  bed  in  southeast  Illinois.  It  also  corresponds 
to  the  "middle  vein"  coal  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Salle.  It  is  a  very  persistent 
bed,  being  present  over  practically  all  of  the  Canton  quadrangle  east  of  its 
line  of  outcrop,  and  underlies  an  extensive  territory  to  the  south  and  east 
of  this  area.  Its  thickness  is  remarkably  uniform  (from  4  to  5  feet)  in 
the  different  mines  and  outcrops  of  the  area.  In  the  eastern  and  north 
parts  of  the  Canton  quadrangle  the  Springfield  coal  lies  about  65  feet  below 
the  Herrin  bed,  but  in  the  southwest  quarter,  in  the  vicinity  of  Cuba,  an 
erosional  unconformity  occurred  between  these  coals  so  that  in  some  places, 
a  variable  part  of  the  strata  usually  present  between  these  coals,  has  been 
removed  by  erosion  and  the  Springfield  coal  is  locally  found  only  8  to  25 
feet  or  less  below  the  Herrin  bed. 

As  elsewhere  in  the  State  the  Springfield  coal  in  this  region  is  usually 
cut  by  numerous  clay  seams  or  "horsebacks"  which  in  some  places  increase 
the  trouble  and  expense  of  mining  and  cleaning  the  coal.  In  the  southwest 
part  of  the  area,  where  the  strata  usually  occurring  above  the  Springfield 
bed  are  absent,  and  the  coal  is  immediately  overlain  by  several  feet  of  sand- 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      COAL    RESOURCES  255 

stone,  there  are  no  clay  seams  in  the  coal.  This  fact  corroborates  the  views 
previously  expressed1  that  the  character  of  the  strata  associated  with  the 
coal  determined  the  formation  of  the  clay  seams. 

The  conditions  for  mining  the  Springfield  coal  are  unusually  favorable. 
The  underclay  is  hard  and  generally  thin  and  does  not  creep  readily  so  that 
it  rarely  causes  trouble  by  squeezes.  The  coal  is  overlain  by  a  hard  black 
shale  that  usually  stands  well  as  a  roof  without  much  timbering,  except 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  clay  seams.  In  the  lower  part  of  the  roof  shale  "nigger- 
heads"  or  pyrite  concretions  are  in  many  places  abundant. 

The  composition  and  fuel  value  of  this  coal  are  given  in  the  table  of 
analyses. 

HERRI N    (NO.  6)    COAL 

The  Herrin  coal  is  present  in  the  area  over  only  35  or  40  square  miles 
near  the  east  side  of  the  Canton  quadrangle  north  of  Canton,  and  over  a 
still  smaller  area  in  the  vicinity  of  Cuba.  It  lies  so  near  the  surface,  usually 
from  a  few  feet  to  50  feet,  that  its  quality  has  been  injured  by  the  action 
of  ground  water,  so  that  even  when  it  is  present  the  shafts  of  the  commercial 
mines  are  put  down  through  this  coal  to  the  Springfield  bed  which  is  nor- 
mally about  65  feet  lower.  The  Herrin  coal  is  fairly  uniform  in  thickness 
in  this  region,  usually  ranging  between  4  and  5  feet.  As  elsewhere  in  the 
State  this  coal  has  a  band  of  bone  coal  or  dark  shale  ("blue  band"),  1  to  2 
inches  thick,  about  14  inches  above  the  floor.  Like  the  Springfield  and  other 
coals  in  this  region  and  at  other  places  in  the  State,  the  Herrin  coal  appears 
laminated  or  banded  with  alternating  bright  and  dull  laminae  which  vary  in 
thickness  from  %  to  1-32  of  an  inch,  the  thickness  of  the  bright  laminae 
not  differing  greatly  from  that  of  the  dull.  The  dull  bands  usually  contain 
mineral  charcoal  or  mother  coal  which  at  some  levels,  especially  in  the  upper 
part  of  the  bed,  is  sufficiently  thick  to  form  conspicuous,  clean,  persistent 
partings. 

Above  the  coal  is  a  few  inches  of  dark  shale  followed  by  a  hard  lime- 
stone 3  to  5  feet  thick  which  contains  numerous  shells  of  Girtyina  ventricosa 
and  other  marine  fossils.  The  underclay  of  this  coal  is  hard  and  generally 
1  to  3  feet  thick,  and  when  the  coal  is  worked  causes  little  trouble  by 
squeezing. 

McLEANSBORO  COAL 
NO.   7   COAL 

In  this  region  No.  7  coal,  measuring  12  to  18  inches,  is  too  thin  to  be 
profitably  mined.  It  is  present  over  only  20  or  25  square  miles  near  the 
east  side  of  the  Canton  quadrangle,  in  the  vicinity  of  Farmington  and  south 
as  far  as  Brereton.  It  lies  about  35  feet  above  the  Herrin  coal  and  about 
105  feet  above  the  Springfield  bed,  and  is  the  uppermost  coal  that  is  found 
in  this  region. 


XT.    E.    Savage,    Clay    seams    or    "horsebacks"    near    Springfield,    Illinois:      Economic 
Geology,  vol.  V,  No.  2,  March,  1910,  pp.  178-187. 


256 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1915 


CHEMICAL  ANALYSES  OF  THE  COALS 


Samples  of  coal  for  chemical  analysis  have  been  collected  by  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Illinois  Geological  Survey  from  the  face  of  the  Springfield 
coal  in  the  mines  of  the  Canton  quadrangle.  The  results  of  these  analyses 
are  given  in  the  table  below : 


Table  42. — Analyses  of  mine  samples  taken  in  and  near  the  Canton  and 

Avon  quadrangles 

Not  exactly  indicative  of  commercial  output 


Proximate  Analysis  of  Coal 

>> 

1st:  "As  ree'd,"  with  total  moisture 

6 

V 

4) 

03 
Q 

« 

o 
U 

2nd:  "Dry"  or  moisture  free 

u 

3 

a 
"3 

CO 

O 
U 

PQ 

03 

O 

o 

u 

O 
.O 

03 
_) 

CO 

*o 

2 

._.  o3 

Fixed 
Carbon 

Ash 

U 
'S 

13 

No.  1  Coal 


12469 

0328 

4/21 

1 

11.38 
Dry 

38.66 
43.62 

39.51 
44.58 

10.45 
11.80 

4.52 
5.10 

.87 
.98 

11436 
12905 

14979 

12470 

0328 

4/21 

1 

11.42 
Dry 

38.17 
43.09 

40.07 
45.24 

10.34 
11.67 

4.76 
5.37 

.45 
.51 

11409 
12880 

14934 

12471 

0328 

4/21 

1 

10.84 
Dry 

38.42 
43.09 

40.91 

45.88 

9.83 
11.03 

5.61 
6.29 

.54 
.61 

11554 
12959 

14939 

1858 

0328 

9/08 

1 

17.21 
Dry 

37.49 

45.28 

38.69 
46.73 

6.61 
7.99 

3.90 

4.71 

11147 
13464 

14904 

No.  2  Coal 


2753 


1422 


14.87 
Dry 


35.80 
42.06 


43.88 
51.54 

5.45 
6.40 

11641 
13674 

3.69 

14083 


No.  5  Coal 


12442 

0102 

4/21 

5 

15.43 
Dry 

33.62 
39.76 

39.47 
46.67 

11.48 
13.57 

2.50 
2.66 

1.41 
1.67 

10389 
12285 

14473 

12443 

0103 

4/21 

5 

14.43 
Dry 

34.60 
40.43 

39.09 
45.69 

11.88 
13.88 

2.82 
3.29 

2.45 
2.86 

10320 
12061 

14297 

12444 

0103 

4/21 

5 

15.00 
Dry 

33.10 
38.94 

37.31 
43.89 

14.59 
17.17 

3.38 
3.98 

2.86 
3.36 

9834 
11569 

14300 

12445 

0103 

4/21 

5 

14.69 
Dry 

34.07 
39.94 

40.18 
47.09 

11.06 
12.97 

2.83 
3.32 

1.75 
2.05 

10383 
12172 

14266 

12446 

0103 

4/21 

5 

14.52 
Dry 

34.46 
40.31 

37.64 
44.04 

13.38 
15.65 

2.91 
3.40 

2.74 
3.21 

10045 
11752 

14261 

12447 

0103 

4/21 

5 

14.75 
Dry 

33.18 
38.92 

38.89 
45.62 

13.18 
15.46 

3.70 
4.34 

1.54 
1.81 

9869 
11577 

14298 

12448 

0103 

4/21 

5 

14.28 
Dry 

34.93 
40.75 

38.76 
45.22 

12.03 
14.03 

2.56 
2.99 

1.98 
2.31 

10329 
12061 

14316 

12472 

0104 

4/21 

5 

15.32 
Dry 

35.12 
41.48 

38.05 
44.93 

11.51 
13.59 

2.59 
3.06 

1.41 
1.66 

10482 
12379 

14617 

12473 

0104 

4/21 

5 

15.09 
Dry 

13.37 
41.66 

39.41 
46.41 

10.13 
11.93 

2.68 
3.16 

1.79 
1.66 

10741 
12650 

14631 

a  Analyses  having  the  same  file  number  are  for  the  same  mine.  Attention  is  called  to 
the  fact  that  much  greater  dependence  can  be  placed  on  these  analyses  where  there  are  at 
least  three  for  a  given  mine  than  where  only  one  is  available. 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      COAL    RESOURCES 
Table  42 — Continued 


257 


d 

6 
to 

cd 

Q 

n 
pq 

o 
U 

Proximate  Analysis  of  Coal 
1st:  "As  ree'd,"  with  total  moisture 
2nd:  "Dry"  or  moisture  free 

j3 
a, 
"3 
CO 

6 
u 

3 

o 

o 

o 

0) 
3 
en 
"3 

£2 

si 

CO 

< 

u 
"3 

12474 

0104 

4/21 

5 

15.56 
Dry 

35.68 
42.26 

38.92 
46.09 

9.84 
11.65 

2.43 
2.88 

1.33 
1.58 

10753 
12735 

14668 

12475 

0104 

4/21 

5 

14.56 
Dry 

35.37 
41.40 

38.98 
45.62 

11.09 
12.98 

2.72 
3.19 

1.38 
1.62 

10581 
12384 

14512 

12476 

0104 

4/21 

5 

15.39 
Dry 

33.82 
39.97 

38.77 
45.82 

12.02 
14.21 

3.40 
4.02 

1.67 
1.97 

10338 
12219 

14565 

12477 

0104 

4/21 

5 

15.66 
Dry 

34.65 
41.08 

37.56 

44.54 

12.13 
14.38 

2.93 

3.47 

1.88 
2.23 

10242 
12144 

14583 

12439 

0111 

4/21 

5 

13.37 
Dry 

36.03 
41.59 

39.03 
45.06 

11.57 
13.35 

3.06 

3.52 

1.46 
1.69 

10787 
12452 

14670 

12440 

0111 

4/21 

5 

14.44 
Dry 

34.71 
40.57 

38.58 
45.09 

12.27 
14.34 

2.17 
2.54 

1.80 
2.10 

10578 
12364 

14683 

12441 

0111 

4/21 

5 

14.96 
Dry 

33.65 
39.57 

39.96 
46.99 

11.43 
13.44 

4.32 
5.08 

1.11 
1.30 

10502 
12352 

14616 

5345 

0115 
C30 

8/12 

5 

16.36 
Dry 

33.91 
40.54 

38.19 
45.66 

11.54 
13.80 

2.93 
3.50 

1.27 
1.51 

10186 
12179 

14431 

5346 

0115 
C30 

8/12 

5 

16.33 
Dry 

35.50 
42.42 

37.01 
44.23 

11.16 
13.35 

2.89 
3.45 

1.84 
2.20 

10220 
12213 

14389 

5347 

0115 
C30 

8/12 

5 

15.85 
Dry 

36.12 
42.92 

38.12 

45.30 

9.91 
11.78 

3.36 
4.00 

1.47 
1.75 

10494 
12471 

14386 

5293 

0127 
C29 

8/12 

5 

17.13 
Dry 

36.23 
43.72 

34.44 
41.55 

12.20 
14.73 

3.03 
3.66 

1.79 
2.16 

9846 

11882 

14252 

5297 

0127 
C29 

8/12 

5 

16.59 
Dry 

35.98 
43.14 

37.20 
44.61 

10.23 
12.25 

4.07 
4.88 

1.77 
2.12 

10271 
12314 

14354 

5300 

0127 
C29 

8/12 

5 

15.41 
Dry 

35.67 
42.16 

39.04 
46.15 

9.88 
11.69 

3.31 
3.92 

.52 
.61 

10579 
12505 

14443 

12459 

0134 

4/21 

5 

14.57 
Dry 

35.24 
41.25 

39.58 
46.33 

10.61 

12.42 

2.89 
3.38 

1.00 
1.17 

10562 
12363 

14391 

12460 

0134 

4/21 

5 

16.16 

Dry 

35.65 

42.52 

37.89 
45.19 

10.30 
12.29 

2.50 
2.98 

1.56 
1.86 

10422 
12431 

14434 

12461 

0134 

4/21 

5 

13.35 
Dry 

37.84 
43.67 

39.86 
46.00 

8.95 
10.33 

2.22 
2.56 

1.77 
2.04 

10843 
12514 

14150 

12462 

0134 

4/21 

5 

15.86 
Dry 

35.20 
41.84 

37.32 
44.35 

11.62 
13.81 

3.49 
4.15 

1.31 
1.56 

10198 
12120 

14380 

12463 

0134 

4/21 

5 

14.34 
Dry 

35.09 
40.96 

36.72 
42.87 

13.85 
16.17 

3.84 
4.48 

2.47 
2.89 

9944 
11609 

14217 

12464 

0134 

4/21 

5 

14.62 
Dry 

36.18 

42.38 

39.21 
45.92 

9.99 
11.70 

2.43 
2.85 

1.49 
1.74 

10719 

12555 

14465 

5292 

0811 
C28 

8/12 

5 

17.39 
Dry 

37.00 
44.79 

35.69 

43.20 

9.92 
12.01 

2.74 
3.28 

1.14 
1.36 

10273 
12435 

14416 

5295 

0811 
C28 

8/12 

5 

16.33 
Dry 

36.27 
43.34 

36.58 
43.72 

10.82 
12.94 

3.40 
4.06 

1.94 

2.32 

10246 
12247 

14371 

5299 

0811 

C28 

8/12 

5 

16.33 
Dry 

36.75 
43.92 

38.02 

45.44 

8.90     ' 
10.64 

2.59 
3.10 

1.02 
1.22 

10604 
12674 

14421 

5342 

0728 
C32 

8/12 

5 

13.66 
Dry 

38.46 
44.54 

37.06 
42.92 

10.82 
12.54 

3.64 

4.22 

1.26 
1.46 

10689 
12379 

14462 

a  Analyses  having  the  same  file  number  are  for  the  same  mine.  Attention  is  called  to 
the  fact  that  much  greater  dependence  can  be  placed  on  these  analyses  where  there  are  at 
least  three  for  a  given  mine  than  where  only  one  is  available. 


258 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  191! 
Table  42 — Concluded 


6 

d 

0) 

Q 

•a 
w 

o 
U 

Proximate  Analysis  of  Coal 
1st:  "As  rec'd,"  with  total  moisture 
2nd:  "Dry"  or  moisture  free 

a 

Si 

a 

6 
u 

a" 

PQ 

o 
U 

"2 
p 

o 

O 

a 

"3 

< 

5343 

0728 
C32 

8/12 

5 

14.53 
Dry 

37.46 
43.83 

38.35 

44.87 

9.66 
11.30 

3.18 

3.72 

1.60 
1.87 

10804 
12641 

14525 

5344 

0728 
C32 

8/12 

5 

15.80 
Dry 

35.84 
42.56 

37.67 
44.74 

10.69 
12.70 

3.00 

3.57 

1.79 

2.12 

10460 
12423 

14520 

12436 

0814 

4/21 

5 

15.88 
Dry 

33.96 
40.37 

38.75 
46.07 

11.41 
13.56 

4.38 
5.21 

.92 
1.10 

10330 
12280 

14569 

12437 

0814 

4/21 

5 

16.68 
Dry 

35.46 

42.56 

37.90 
45.49 

9.96 
11.95 

3.82 
4.58 

.61 
.74 

10464 
12559 

14579 

12438 

0814 

4/21 

5 

14.53 
Dry 

35.68 
41.74 

38.23 
44.73 

11.56 
13.53 

3.45 
4.04 

1.00 
1.17 

10608 
12411 

14679 

1404 

0832 

4/08 

5 

15.09 
Dry 

35.39 
41.68 

38.89 
45.80 

10.63 
12.52 

3.21 
3.79 

10573 
12450 

14447 

5283 

1116 
C31 

8/12 

5 

15.18 
Dry 

37.17 
43.82 

35.17 
41.45 

12.48 
14.73 

3.45 
4.07 

1.70 
2.00 

10201 
12026 

14441 

5284 

1116 
C31 

8/12 

5 

16.94 
Dry 

35.68 
42.95 

37.15 
44.73 

10.23 
12.32 

2.98 
3.59 

1.31 
1.57 

10314 
12418 

14446 

5285 

1116 
C31 

8/12 

5 

18.42 
Dry 

34.98 
42.88 

37.66 
46.15 

8.94 
10.97 

2.33 
2.85 

.86 
1.06 

10270 
12587 

14371 

5296 

1116 
C31 

8/12 

5 

16.82 
Dry 

37.28 
44.81 

33.45 
40.23 

12.45 
14.96 

2.84 
3.42 

1.69 
2.02 

10580 
12038 

14479 

5298 

1116 
C31 

8/12 

5 

16.52 
Dry 

37.17 
44.52 

36.54 
43.78 

9.77 
11.70 

3.91 
4.69 

.81 
.97 

10394 
12451 

14409 

5341 

1116 
C31 

8/12 

5 

17.37 
Dry 

35.71 
43.22 

37.86 

45.82 

9.06 
10.96 

2.34 
2.83 

1.14 
1.38 

10420 
12610 

14398 

1856 

1217a 

9/08 

5 

15.44 
Dry 

35.88 
42.42 

38.35 
45.36 

10.33 
12.22 

3.52 
4.17 

10711 
12666 

14673 

4387 

1220 

8/11 

5 

12.03 
Dry 

36.30 
41.27 

39.67 
45.08 

12.00 
13.65 

3 .  35 
3.81 

.72 
.82 

10779 
12254 

14652 

4388 

1220 

8/11 

5 

14.04 
Dry 

36.14 
42.04 

39.28 
45.69 

10.54 
12.27 

3.46 
4.02 

.56 
.65 

10721 
12472 

14627 

2651 

1220a 

8/09 

5 

14.35 
Dry 

34.48 
40.25 

36.98 
43.18 

14.19 
16.57 

4.44 
5.19 

10324 
12053 

14771 

a  Analyses  having  the  same  file  number  are  for  the  same  mine.  Attention  is  called  to 
the  fact  that  much  greater  dependence  can  be  placed  on  these  analyses  where  there  are  at 
least  three  for  a  given  mine  than  where  only  one  is  available. 


MINES  AND  MINING  METHODS 

The  larger  mines  in  this  area  are  usually  provided  with  modern  equip- 
ment and  conveniences  but  the  smaller  shipping  mines  and  practically  all 
\i  the  non-shipping  mines  employ  primitive  methods  in  mining  the  coal. 
The  coal  is  worked  by  shafts  in  all  but  three  of  the  commercial  mines,  and 
these  drift  in  on  the  outcrop  of  the  bed.  The  room  and  pillar  method,  or 
a  modification  of  this  plan,  is  followed  in  practically  all  of  the  mines. 
Machines  for  undercutting  the  coal  are  used  in  only  a  few  of  the  larger 
mines,  the  coal  generally  being  shot  from  the  solid.     Electric  motors  are 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      COAL    RESOURCES  259 

used  for  the  main  haulage  in  several  of  the  larger  mines,  and  the  tail  rope 
is  used  in  a  few  others,  but  in  the  larger  number  of  the  mines  all  of  the 
haulage  is  done  by  mules.  In  a  few  mines  compressed  air  is  used  for  work- 
ing the  drills  and  electricity  is  provided  for  lighting.  The  deeper  mines  are 
usually  dry,  but  the  more  shallow  ones  are  sometimes  troubled  with  water 
seeping  in  from  the  roof.  Generally,  neither  the  necessary  sprinkling  nor 
pumping  entails  much  expense.  In  the  greater  number  of  the  mines  few  of 
the  pillars  are  ever  taken  out,  and  at  none  of  them  is  the  coal  washed  before 
it  is  put  on  the  market. 

Nineteen  shipping  mines  were  operated  in  the  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles during  the  year  1920,  and  more  than  60  local  mines  were  worked, 
generally  by  drifts  or  by  stripping,  during  a  small  part  of  the  year.  The 
1920  output  of  individual  shipping  mines  in  the  area  ranged  from  4,826  to 
238,400  tons,  and  of  the  non-shipping  mines  from  12  to  30,270  tons.  In 
Table  43  is  given  a  list  of  the  commercial  mines  in  the  Avon  and  Canton 
quadrangles,  and  the  location,  depth  to  the  top  of  the  coal,  and  the  thickness 
of  the  coal  for  each  mine. 


260 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1911 


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AVON-CANTON  AREA:   SHALE  AND  CLAY 


Shale  and  Clay 


261 


Pennsylvanian  shale  and  Pleistocene  clay  suitable  for  the  manufacture 
of  common  brick  and  tile  are  found  in  nearly  all  parts  of  the  Avon  and 
Canton  quadrangles,  and  both  have  been  utilized  in  this  area. 


PENNSYLVANIAN  SHALES 

The  shales  outcropping  in  this  region  are  of  Pennsylvanian  age,  and 
on  account  of  the  abundance  of  this  material  exposed  at  the  surface,  none  is 
sufficiently  valuable  to  justify  underground  working,  their  use  being  confined 
to  the  area  of  outcrop  of  the  beds  where  the  shale  can  be  dug  from  open 
pits.  The  most  important  shale  horizons  that  are  available  over  a  consid- 
erable part  of  the  area  are  (1)  the  shale  overlying  the  Colchester  (No.  2) 
coal,  and  (2)  the  Canton  shale  member  overlying  the  limestone  above  the 
Springfield  (No.  5)  coal. 

At  a  few  places  in  the  Avon  quadrangle  a  lower  shale  lying  between 
the  Colchester  (No.  2)  and  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1)  coals  is  favorably 
exposed  and  is  of  suitable  quality  for  the  manufacture  of  common  clay 
products,  as  north  of  Avon  shown  in  figure  42.     The  shale  overlying  the 


Fig.  42.     Shale  exposed  in  the  clay  pit  of  the  Avon  Milling  and  Manufacturing  Company, 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  Avon 

Colchester  coal  is  exposed  in  a  few  places  near  the  west  side  of  the  Canton 
quadrangle  and  in  numerous  places  in  the  Avon,  but  it  has  never  been 
utilized  on  an  extensive  scale.  In  connection  with  the  mining  of  the  Avon 
coal  at  Prairie  City  some  years  ago,  this  overlying  shale  was  also  taken  out 
and  used  for  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  tile. 


262  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

The  Canton  shale  is  the  most  valuable  and  generally  accessible  shale  in 
the  Canton  quadrangles.  It  outcrops  under  thin  cover  at  many  places  in 
the  vicinity  of  Canton  with  a  thickness  of  15  to  30  feet,  and  is  exploited 
by  a  number  of  clay  working  companies.  This  shale  is  gray  and  slightly 
sandy.  It  has  good  plasticity  so  it  can  be  moulded  by  the  stiff  mud  process, 
and  does  not  shrink  much  in  drying  and  burning.  It  permits  a  considerable 
range  in  temperature  between  initial  fusion  and  vitrification,  and  is  suitable 
for  the  manufacture  of  paving  brick  as  well  as  the  more  common  grades  of 
brick  and  tile. 

The  shale  bed  underlying  No.  7  coal,  and  also  that  below  the  Lonsdale 
limestone,  are  each  of  good  thickness,  and  appear  to  be  of  fair  quality.  How- 
ever, these  shales  are  present  over  such  a  limited  area,  in  the  northeast 
part  of  the  Canton  quadrangles,  and  they  are  exposed  so  far  from  any  town, 
that  they  at  present  are  of  little  value. 

PLEISTOCENE  CLAYS 

Available  clays  of  Pleistocene  age  suitable  for  manufacture  of  common 
brick  and  tile  comprise  glacial  drift,  recent  alluvium,  and  loess.  Of  this  a 
small  thickness  of  glacial  till  is  used  in  one  locality,  but  the  loess  which  is 
widely  distributed  at  the  surface  is  more  frequently  utilized.  The  recent 
alluvium  is  not  of  great  importance  as  a  source  of  clay,  being  limited  in 
distribution  and  commonly  mixed  with  an  objectionable  amount  of  sand  and 
gravel,  and  is  subject  to  overflow  during  each  year. 

CLAY-WORKING  PLANTS 

The  West  Canton  Paving  Brick  Company  operates  a  large  plant  about 
one  and  one-half  miles  west  of  Canton.  Paving  and  building  brick,  hollow 
block  and  drain  tile  are  made  of  shale,  from  the  Canton  shale  member, 
mixed  with  a  small  amount  of  loess,  a  vertical  thickness  of  about  25  feet 
of  shale  and  4  to  6  feet  of  loess  being  worked.  The  yearly  output  is  about 
3  million  building  brick  and  1  million  paving  brick,  largely  marketed  in  the 
city  of  Canton.  Drain  tile  is  also  manufactured  in  such  quantity  as  the 
local  demand  requires. 

Heckard  and  Sons,  in  the  west  part  of  Canton,  also  use  without  stripping 
a  thickness  of  about  17  feet  of  the  Canton  shale  with  about  3  feet  of  over- 
lying loess,  in  the  manufacture  of  paving,  building,  and  sidewalk  brick.  An 
aggregate  of  about  6,000,000  brick  per  year  are  usually  marketed,  the  pro- 
portion of  different  kinds  depending  on  the  demand.  A  considerable  part 
of  their  production  goes  to  the  local  market,  but  large  quantities  are  also 
shipped  to  Peoria  and  Chicago. 

For  several  years  George  B.  Roller  has  operated  a  brick  yard  in  the 
west  part  of  Canton,  manufacturing  paving  and  common  grades  of  building 


AVON-CANTON:       SAND    AND    GRAVEL  263 

brick.     The  raw  material  used  is  the  Canton  shale  with  no  addition  of  loess 
or  other  clay. 

The  Avon  Milling  and  Manufacturing  Company,  which  is  the  only 
maker  of  clay  products  in  the  Avon  quadrangles,  has  a  pit  about  a  quarter 
of  a.  mile  northwest  of  Avon  (fig.  42).  Common  building  brick,  fire  brick, 
and  drain  tile  are  manufactured  from  a  mixture  of  shale,  till,  and  loess. 
The  face  of  the  pit  shows  about  20  feet  of  shale,  and  3  feet  each  of  the  till 
and  the  loess  which  is  used  in  the  proportions  in  the  bank.  The  shale  is  in 
the  Pottsville  formation  about  12  feet  below  the  Colchester  (No.  2)  coal. 

Sand  and  Gravel 

Sand  suitable  for  plaster  and  cement  occurs  in  abundance  in  the  dune- 
like hills  bordering  the  east  side  of  Spoon  River  near  the  northwest  corner 
of  the  Canton  quadrangles  and  south  of  London  Mills  in  the  Avon,  and  in 
the  beds  of  all  of  the  larger  streams.  Pleistocene  gravel  overlying  Illinoian 
till  is  exposed  in  several  places  in  the  banks  of  the  larger  streams  in  this 
region,  and  also  occurs  in  many  places  along  the  channels  of  the  larger 
streams.  The  greater  part  of  the  sand  and  gravel  used  in  the  area  is  taken 
from  the  beds  of  Spoon  River,  near  London  Mills  and  Ellisville ;  Big  Creek, 
near  Canton ;  Put  Creek,  near  Cuba ;  Littlers  Creek,  near  Farmington ;  Cedar 
Creek,  near  Avon  and  St.  Augustine ;  and  Shaw  Creek,  near  Marietta. 

Building  Stone 

Good  building  stone  is  not  abundant  in  the  quadrangles.  The  limestone 
bed  equivalent  to  that  worked  in  the  Lonsdale  quarries  farther  east,  in 
Peoria  County,  has  been  quarried  about  2%  miles  east  of  Farmington  to 
supply  local  trade.  It  consists  of  two  ledges  of  hard  gray  limestone,  respec- 
tively 4  and  5  feet  in  thickness,  separated  by  about  7  feet  of  calcareous  shale. 
This  limestone  is  present  over  a  few  square  miles  south  of  Farmington  in 
the  northeast  quarter  of  the  Canton  quadrangles,  but  is  not  exposed  within 
the  area. 

Sandstone  suitable  for  foundation  work  and  rough  masonry  has  been 
quarried  from  two  or  three  horizons  of  the  Pottsville  formation  in  different 
places  in  the  Avon  quadrangles.  In  the  vicinity  of  Marietta  station,  a  sand- 
stone belonging  not  far  below  the  Rock  Island  coal  was  formerly  quarried 
on  a  commercial  scale,  a  thickness  of  12  to  20  feet  being  worked.  The  layers 
are  y2  to  2y2  feet  thick  and  have  furnished  considerable  dimension  stone 
and  other  stone  for  bridge  abutments  and  foundations.  In  the  northeast 
quarter  of  sec.  25,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  W.,  a  sandstone  occurring  a  few  feet  below 
the  Rock  Island  coal  has  been  quarried  in  a  few  places  to  supply  rough  stone 
to  the  local  trade.  Another  sandstone  ledge  10  to  12  feet  thick,  a  short 
distance  above  the  Rock  Island  coal,  was  formerly  extensively  quarried  in 
the  NE.  1/4  sec.  26,  T.  9  N.,  R.  1  W.     In  several  other  places  in  the  Avon 


264  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

quadrangles  sandstones  of  Pottsville  age  have  been  quarried  in  a  small  way 
for  local  purposes,  but  these  would  not  generally  furnish  durable  building 
stones.    At  present  there  are  no  active  quarries  in  the  area. 

Soils 

The  wealth  of  the  region  embracing  the  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles 
depends  primarily  upon  agriculture  and  hence  the  soil  is  its  greatest  natural 
resource.  The  soils  of  the  quadrangles  may  be  divided  into  four  distinct 
types :  1,  alluvial,  2,  glacial  till,  3,  sandy,  and  4,  loess.  These  types,  in  places, 
more  or  less  intergrade.  These  soils,  like  all  others,  have  been  formed  by 
geologic  processes  to  which  are  due  to  a  large  extent  their  texture,  their 
physical  and  chemical  composition,  and  their  fertility.  The  character  of  the 
soil  at  any  place  depends  upon  the  character  of  the  rocks  from  which  it 
was  derived,  and  on  the  conditions  and  forces  by  which  it  has  since  been 
affected. 

ALLUVIAL  SOILS 

The  alluvial  soils  in  this  region  occur  over  the  flood  plains  of  the  larger 
streams  and  aggregate  many  square  miles  in  extent.  They  are  usually  com- 
posed of  clay  and  in  most  places  are  colored  dark  with  organic  matter.  A 
considerable  portion  of  the  area  of  alluvial  soils  is  subject  to  overflows  which 
each  year  make  additional  contributions  to  the  surface  of  this  deposit.  The 
flood  plain  areas  have  been  largely  cleared  of  the  forests  that  originally  cov- 
ered them  and,  where  properly  drained,  are  second  to  none  in  fertility  and 
constancy  of  productiveness. 

GLACIAL  TILL 

Soils  developed  directly  upon  glacial  till  are  in  this  region  confined 
mostly  to  the  slopes  that  are  so  steep  that  the  loess  has  been  removed  by 
erosion,  or  has  never  been  permitted  to  accumulate  upon  them.  These  soils 
consist  mainly  of  clay  with  more  or  less  sand  and  gravel.  Owing  to  their 
position  on  the  slopes  they  have  been  subjected  to  strong  leaching  and  are 
thus  low  in  humus  and  other  more  soluble  plant  foods,  and  are  not  generally 
highly  productive. 

SANDY  SOIL 

Sandy  soil  occurs  over  a  few  square  miles  on  the  east  side  of  Spoon 
River  above  and  below  London  Mills.  It  is  granular,  thin,  and  porous.  It 
rapidly  loses  its  moisture  by  evaporation,  and  suffers  serious  downward 
leaching  of  its  soluble  constituents,  and,  except  in  wet  seasons,  is  not  very 
productive. 

LOESS  SOILS 

A  mantle  of  loess  generally  covers  the  till  and  forms  the  surface  material 
over  the  greater  portion  of  the  uplands  to  a  depth  of  10  to  15  or  more  feet. 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      SOILS  265 

It  is  yellowish  brown  to  grey,  except  near  the  surface  where  it  is  colored 
dark  with  humus  and  organic  matter.  The  constitutent  particles  of  loess 
were  originally  derived  from  the  till  and  thus  they  consist  of  diverse  mate- 
rials brought  from  widely  separated  areas  and  contain  all  the  essential 
ingredients  of  an  unusually  fertile  soil. 

Its  physical  characters  are  also  conducive  to  a  good  soil.  Its  constit- 
uent particles  are  so  fine  as  to  give  it  good  power  of  resisting  drought  and 
prevent  the  rapid  leaching  of  its  plant  food,  while  at  the  same  time  it  is 
sufficiently  porous  to  permit  good  under  drainage.  Where  the  slopes  are  not 
so  steep  as  to  sufler  serious  erosion,  this  soil  produces  excellent  yields  of 
corn,  wheat,  oats,  and  grasses,  and  is  also  favorable  for  the  growth  of  apples, 
berries,  and  other  fruits. 

Water  Resources 
general  considerations 

The  water  present  in  the  soil  and  rocks  below  the  surface  is  known  as 
ground  water,  the  source  of  which  is  rainfall.  The  average  rainfall  in  this 
region  is  approximately  40  inches.  When  rain  water  sinks  into  the  ground 
it  eventually  reaches  a  depth  below  which  the  pores  of  the  soil  and  rocks 
are  filled  with  water.  The  upper  surface  of  this  zone  of  saturation  is 
known  as  the  ground  water  level,  or  water-table.  The  water-table  is  not  a 
plain,  as  the  surface  of  the  water  of  a  pond,  but  it  is  lower  in  the  vicinity 
of  streams,  and  in  areas  where  the  surface  materials  are  porous,  than  over 
uplands,  and  where  the  surface  materials  are  more  impervious. 

The  depth  of  the  water-table  in  any  region  is  not  constant  but  depends 
primarily  upon  the  variation  in  the  amount  of  precipitation,  and  upon  the 
nature  of  the  rock  or  soil.  The  upper  portion  of  the  ground  water  is  con- 
tinually moving  laterally  and  downward  toward  the  permanent  streams,  at 
a  rate  varying  with  the  nature  of  the  soil  or  rocks.  During  periods  of 
drought  the  water  moving  towards  the  streams  is  not  replaced  by  rain 
water  and  hence,  as  the  supply  of  ground  water  is  diminished,  the  water- 
table  is  lowered.  This  general  action  is  aided  by  evaporation  at  the  surface 
and  may  continue  until  temporary  streams  and  wells  become  dry.  In  order 
to  furnish  a  permanent  water  supply,  a  well  must  be  dug  below  the  level  to 
which  the  water-table  falls  in  dry  seasons. 

The  depth  of  the  water-table  is  also  affected  by  the  nature  of  the  rock 
or  soil.  Fine-grained,  closely  compacted  material  affords  little  pore  space 
for  the  water,  and  hence  furnishes  less  favorable  conditions  for  the  down- 
ward percolation  of  the  water  than  do  the  coarser-grained  soils  and  rocks. 
In  the  more  impervious  material,  as  clay,  the  water-table  is  usually  nearer 
the  surface  than  in  more  porous  beds  of  sand  and  gravel.  Among  other 
factors  affecting  the  height  of  the  water-table  are  evaporation,  temperature, 
and  atmospheric  pressure. 


266  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

In  addition  to  the  periodic  variation  in  the  level  of  the  water-table, 
there  has  been  in  recent  years  a  permanent  lowering  of  this  level  in  Illinois, 
largely  as  a  result  of  increased  run-off  due  to  deforestation  and  drainage, 
and  to  increased  consumption  of  water  with  the  increase  of  population  and 
industries. 

The  configuration  of  the  water-table  corresponds  in  a  general  way  to 
the  topography  of  the  surface.  Gravity  tends  to  cause  it  to  assume  a  uniform 
level,  but  is  opposed  by  capillary  attraction  which  acts  between  the  water 
particles  and  the  grains  of  the  material  in  which  the  water  occurs.  Capillary 
action  is  strongest  in  the  fine-grained,  more  impervious  material,  and  hence 
in  fine-grained  soils  or  rocks  the  water-table  is  more  irregular  than  in  regions 
of  more  porous  beds  of  gravel,  sand,  or  sandstone.  On  hill  sides  the  gradient 
of  the  water-table  is  more  gentle  than  the  slope  of  the  surface,  and  it  is 
also  more  gentle  where  the  surface  is  underlain  by  porous  rocks  than  where 
the  material  is  impervious  clay.  The  depth  to  water  is  usually  less  on  low 
lands  than  on  the  tops  of  the  hills. 

WATER-BEARING  STRATA 

All  rocks  and  soils  contain  more  or  less  water,  but  many  of  them  do 
not  hold  it  in  appreciable  amounts,  nor  do  they  part  with  it  readily,  and 
hence  are  not  capable  of  furnishing  a  permanent  and  abundant  water  supply. 
The  power  of  a  rock  to  contain  water  depends  upon  its  porosity,  and  this 
in  turn  depends  largely  upon  the  size  and  shape  of  its  constituent  particles; 
the  larger  and  rounder  these  particles  are  the  less  closely  do  they  interlock 
and  hence  the  larger  the  pores  or  spaces  between  them  that  may  contain 
water.  As  a  consequence  beds  of  gravel,  sand,  or  sandstone  contain  the 
largest  amounts  of  water,  and  such  porous  material  permits  the  most  ready 
movement  of  water  through  it,  so  that  when  water  is  drawn  out  of  wells 
in  such  material,  it  quickly  flows  in  again.  For  these  reasons  beds  of  gravel, 
sand  and  sandstone  furnish  much  stronger  water  supplies  than  beds  of  clay, 
glacial  till,  or  shale. 

WATER  SUPPLIES 

STREAMS 

Spoon  River  and  its  tributary  Cedar  Creek  furnish  an  abundant  and 
permanent  supply  of  surface  water  to  the  regions  through  which  they  flow, 
and  several  of  the  other  creeks  in  the  area  have  a  permanent  flow  in  years 
of  ordinary  rainfall.  Away  from  the  streams  shallow  wells  are  the  great 
source  of  water  for  farm  use  in  the  area.  Most  of  the  wells  are  dug  in  the 
Pleistocene  materials,  but  a  few  obtain  a  water  supply  from  deeper  hard 
rock  sources.  A  few  large  springs  issue  from  a  bed  of  sand  or  gravel 
beneath  the  drift  and  have  a  perennial  flow  which  furnishes  an  excellent 
water  supply. 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      WATER    RESOURCES  267 

SHALLOW    WELLS 

Several  of  the  shallow  wells  of  the  area  derive  their  water  from  the 
base  of  the  loess  which  over  the  uplands  often  furnishes  a  good  supply  for 
farm  use  at  a  depth  of  10  to  15  feet.  The  chief  source  of  water  in  the 
shallow  wells  is  a  bed  of  sand  or  gravel  lying  within  or  immediately  below 
the  Illinoian  till  at  depths  ranging  from  15  to  40  feet,  commonly  less  than 
25  feet.  These  sands  and  gravels  associated  with  the  drift  usually  yield  an 
abundance  of  excellent  water,  the  supply  of  which  does  not  fluctuate  with 
the  seasonal  rainfall  so  much  as  that  of  the  wells  obtaining  water  from  the 
loess  or  from  glacial  drift.  Drift  or  boulder  clay  like  other  clays  contains 
little  pore  space  and  hence  does  not  hold  much  water  nor  does  it  allow  a 
ready  percolation  of  water  through  it  and  so  is  a  poor  source  of  water 
supply. 

WELLS    IN    ROCK 

Many  of  the  wells  in  the  quadrangles  pass  through  the  Pleistocene 
materials  into  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  to  a  variable  depth  of  50  to  300  feet. 
The  water  in  these  wells  does  not  appear  to  come  from  a  common  and 
continuous  water-bearing  bed,  nor  is  the  supply  notably  stronger  than  that  of 
the  wells  obtaining  water  from  sand  or  gravel  in  the  glacial  till. 

That  the  water-bearing  beds  in  the  McLeansboro  and  Carbondale  for- 
mations are  not  continuous  in  this  region  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  several 
of  the  wells  which  penetrate  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  to  a  considerable 
depth  do  not  obtain  a  strong  water  supply,  and  also  by  the  coal  shafts  in 
the  area.  There  are  22  coal  shafts  in  the  quadrangles,  ranging  in  depth  from 
35  to  175  feet,  none  of  which  encountered  a  strong  aquifer,  nor  does  water 
find  its  way  into  any  of  the  mines  in  sufficient  quantity  to  cause  serious 
trouble. 

The  city  of  Canton  obtains  its  water  from  two  wells  put  down  to  the 
St.  Peter  sandstone  which  is  reached  at  about  1,445  to  1,475  feet.  The 
Parlin  and  Orendorff  Plow  Co.  in  Canton  also  has  put  down  a  deep  well 
to  this  formation.  The  town  of  Cuba  has  recently  put  in  a  deep  well 
water  supply  from  this  sandstone  which  was  reached  at  a  depth  of  1,470 
feet.  The  water  supply  for  the  city  of  Bushnell  is  also  obtained  from  the 
St.  Peter  sandstone  at  a  depth  of  1,351  feet.  The  water  supply  from  this 
sandstone  is  unfailing,  and  the  water  is  not  so  highly  mineralized  in  this 
region  as  it  is  farther  south  in  the  state.  A  flowing  well  near  New  Phila- 
delphia obtains  water  from  the  Trenton  limestone  which  was  reached  at 
a  depth  of  831  feet. 

Oil  and  Gas 
the  hoing  sand 
In  the  Colmar-Plymouth  oil  field  the  producing  stratum  is  a  sandstone, 
known  as  the  Hoing  sand,  which  is  locally  present  immediately  below  the 


268  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Silurian  limestone  and  above  the  Maquoketa  shale  in  western  Illinois.  Sand- 
stone is  not  known  at  this  horizon  in  any  other  portion  of  the  Mississippi  Val- 
ley, and  in  this  region  it  is  not  a  persistent  bed  but  occurs  in  separate  areas, 
the  general  direction  and  extent  of  which  have  not  yet  been  determined.  This 
sand  was  probably  derived  from  the  deeply  weathered  residual  material  that 
was  developed  on  the  surface,  of  the  Maquoketa  shale  during  the  long  period 
of  land  conditions  that  prevailed  in  this  region  between  the  end  of  the  Maquo- 
keta and  the  beginning  of  Niagaran  time.  This  residual  mantle  was  worked 
over  and  the  sand  sorted  out  and  deposited  in  local  depressions  by  the  Nia- 
garan sea  when  it  first  advanced  over  the  region.  This  sandstone  appears 
never  to  have  been  laid  down  over  an  extensive  area,  for  many  of  the  wells 
pass  from  the  Niagaran  limestone  directly  into  the  Maquoketa  shale.  In 
some  places  it  may  have  been  removed  by  erosion  during  the  post-Niagaran- 
pre-Hamilton  land  interval.  During  this  erosion  period  the  Silurian  strata 
were  in  some  places  entirely  removed,  so  that  the  Devonian  limestone  was 
deposited  in  erosional  unconformity  upon  the  Maquoketa  shale. 

OTHER  POSSIBLE  OIL-BEARING   HORIZONS 

Since  the  Niagaran  dolomite  is  productive  of  gas  in  the  Pittsfield  (Pike 
County)  field;  and  since  the  "Trenton"  formation  yields  oil  in  commercial 
quantities  in  the  Waterloo  (Monroe  County)  field,  tests  on  the  better  struc- 
ture in  the  Avon-Canton  area  might  well  be  continued  into  these  horizons. 
Their  approximate  depths  may  be  learned  from  the  columnar  section  on  the 
map,  Plate  I,  and  from  the  detailed  well  sections  in  an  earlier  part  of  this 
report. 

RELATION  OF  ACCUMULATION  TO  FOLDS  IN  THE  OIL-BEARING  BED 

In  most  of  the  productive  fields  of  Illinois,  as  in  Lawrence  and  Craw- 
ford counties,  the  oil  occurs  in  the  upper  parts  of  anticlines  or  domes,  or  in 
terraces  on  the  sides  of  the  folds.  The  productive  oil  fields  of  Illinois  are 
surrounded  by  a  barren  area  in  which  the  wells  tap  salt  water.  This  is  strong 
evidence  that  the  water  is  an  important  factor  in  determining  where  the  oil 
will  accumulate  in  the  sand  stratum  after  it  has  been  more  or  less  folded. 
When  the  sand  is  practically  saturated  with  water  the  oil  generally  occurs 
near  the  crest  of  the  anticlines.  When  the  sand  is  only  partially  saturated 
with  water  the  oil  is  found  farther  down  the  sides  of  the  folds,  and  the 
crests  may  be  dry.  If  no  water  is  present,  the  oil  may  occur  in  the  troughs 
or  synclines,  and  the  anticlines  may  be  barren. 

In  western  Illinois  the  strata  have  a  gentle  eastward  dip  and  the 
structural  features  consist  of  small  folds,  domes,  or  terraces  which  have  been 
developed  as  small  irregularities  or  interruptions  in  the  general  eastward 
slope,  the  crests  of  many  of  the  larger  anticlines  or  domes  being  only  20  or 
30  to  50  feet  high.    The  oil-bearing  sandstone  is  present  only  in  disconnected 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      OIL    AND    GAS    POSSIBILITIES  269 

patches  or  separate  lenses  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  oil  and  water  in 
the  sandstone  occur  in  different  places  at  such  different  elevations  as  to 
preclude  the  possibility  of  the  lateral  connection  of  the  strata  between  them. 
Under  these  conditions  the  accumulation  may  progress  in  each  lens  inde- 
pendently, and  the  degree  of  saturation  by  oil  and  water  determine  whether 
the  accumulation  will  take  place  at  the  top  of  the  folds  or  in  the  terraces 
lower  down  or  in  the  troughs  or  lowest  parts  of  the  depressions. 

LOCALITIES  ALREADY  TESTED 

Although  deep  water  wells  do  not  test  the  strata  for  oil  and  gas  accumu- 
lation as  effectively  as  wells  drilled  for  that  specific  purpose,  the  evidence 
they  give  is  nevertheless  well  worth  noting.  In  Canton  three  deep  wells  put 
down  for  a  water  supply  penetrated  to  a  depth  of  600  to  700  feet  or  more 
below  the  horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand  without  finding  any  oil.  At  Cuba  a 
similar  well,  drilled  to  the  St.  Peter  sandstone,  encountered  no  oil  or  gas ; 
the  Trenton  was  reached  at  a  depth  of  1,170  feet.  Deep  wells  have  also  been 
drilled  at  Bushnell  and  at  Avon,  but  no  oil  or  gas  was  encountered.  The 
city  of  Farmington  drilled  a  1,700-foot  well  in  1917  which  reached  the  base 
of  the  Niagaran  at  a  depth  of  1,075  feet  and  the  top  of  the  "Trenton"  at 
1,235.  On  the  Merrill  farm  in  SE.  cor.  NW.  %  SE.  %  sec.  19,  T.  8  N., 
R.  1  E.,  a  612-foot  well,  drilled  probably  for  water,  reached  the  top  of  the 
Niagaran  lime  at  a  depth  of  580  feet.  In  a  deep  well  on  the  J.  E.  Harris 
farm  in  the  SW.  ^  sec.  31,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.,  about  three  miles  south  of  the 
Avon  quadrangles,  a  showing  of  oil  was  reported  in  the  lower  part  of  the 
Niagaran  limestone  at  depths  of  610  and  635  feet,  respectively,  the  latter  of 
which  is  only  a  few  feet  above  the  horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand.  A  dry  oil 
test  was  completed  in  1917  by  the  Ohio  Oil  Company  on  the  Gannett  farm 
in  the  NW.  %  SE.  %  sec.  29,  T.  8  N.,  R.  3  E.,  but  a  good  log  is  not  avail- 
able; this  test  was  structurally  very  well  located.  An  oil  test  drilled  in  1916 
on  the  J.  C.  Morgan  farm  in  sec.  24,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.,  was  said  to  have 
penetrated  the  horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand  but  the  samples  submitted  proved 
to  be  dolomite  rather  than  sand ;  either  the  Hoing  sand  is  absent  at  this 
location  or  else  the  well  was  not  deep  enough  to  reach  its  horizon.  Another 
dry  oil  test  drilled  in  1917  on  the  Schafer  farm  in  sec.  26,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E., 
was  just  in  the  Niagaran  at  a  depth  of  588  and  therefore  did  not  reach 
the  Hoing  sand  if  that  depth  was  the  full  depth  of  the  well.  Information 
as  to  the  character  of  the  structure  on  which  the  Morgan  and  Schafer  tests 
were  located  is  not  available  as  they  lie  on  the  unworked  area  just  south  of 
the  Avon  quadrangles. 

GAS  IN   GLACIAL  DRIFT 

Small  quantities  of  gas  have  been  reported  from  porous  beds  in  the 
glacial  drift  at  several  places  in  this  region.  In  a  water  well  near  the 
northeast  corner  of  sec.  22,  T.  7  N.,  R.  2  E.,  gas  rises  in  bubbles  through 


270  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

the  water  every  few  minutes  in  such  quantity  that  it  can  be  ignited  with  a 
match.  In  a  well  drilled  on  the  farm  of  J.  E.  Harris,  the  log  of  which  has 
been  given  on  a  previous  page,  gas  was  encountered  in  beds  of  sand  and 
gravel  at  the  depth  of  58  and  72  feet,  respectively,  in  such  quantity  as  to 
interfere  with  the  lights  in  the  drilling  rig.  Two  years  after  this  drilling 
was  made  gas  continued  to  rise  through  the  water  of  this  well  in  such 
quantity  that  it  could  be  readily  ignited  at  the  mouth  of  the  well.  Small 
quantities  of  gas  have  been  reported  in  a  number  of  other  shallow  water 
wells  in  this  region.  In  all  of  these  cases  the  gas  was  doubtless  derived 
from  the  decomposition  of  organic  matter  that  was  buried  in  the  glacial 
drift,  and  it  can  not  be  expected  to  occur  in  such  quantity  as  to  be  com- 
mercially important.  It  has  no  necessary  connection  with  oil  or  gas  accumu- 
lations in  the  deeper  rock  strata,  nor  is  its  presence  in  the  beds  of  sand  and 
gravel  of  Pleistocene  age  any  indication  that  oil  or  gas  is  present  in  the 
deeper  hard  rock  strata  of  the  region. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

In  the  Colmar  region  farther  west  the  oil  is  sometimes  found  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  anticlines  or  domes,  and  sometimes  in  terraces  on  their 
sides,  and  sometimes  the  oil  sand  is  wanting  where  the  structure  appears 
favorable.  Consequently,  any  recommendations  for  test  borings  for  oil  in 
the  Avon  and  Canton  area,  based  on  the  usual  structure  features,  must  be 
recognized  as  carrying  an  unusual  amount  of  uncertainty.  However,  since 
it  is  not  possible  to  tell  before  borings  are  made  whether  the  Hoing  sand 
is  present  or  to  what  extent  it  is  saturated  with  water  in  any  particular  lo- 
cality, if  test  borings  are  to  be  made,  it  would  seem  wise  to  proceed  first 
on  the  usual  assumption  that  the  rocks  will  be  thoroughly  saturated  with 
water,  and  to  test  first  the  places  where  the  structure  is  most  favorable,  as 
the  highest  parts  of  the  anticlines  and  domes. 

From  the  structure  map  it  will  be  seen  that  a  broad  dome  is  present  a 
few  miles  northwest  of  Fairview,  the  highest  point  of  which  is  in  the  NE. 
1/4  sec.  29,  and  the  SE.  %  sec.  20,  T.  8  N.,  R.  3  E.  The  Ohio  Oil  Com- 
pany's test  on  the  Gannett  farm  was  dry,  in  the  SE.  %  sec-  29.  A  low 
anticline  continues  eastward  from  this  dome  passing  near  the  town  of  Farm- 
ington.  South  of  this  area  a  smaller  dome  occurs  west  of  Fiatt  and  is  con- 
tinued towards  the  southeast  in  a  rather  pronounced  arch  to  near  the  south- 
east corner  of  the  Canton  quadrangles.  In  the  northwest  quarter  of  the 
Avon  quadrangles,  a  low  anticline  is  present  near  the  elbow  of  Swan  Creek, 
in  sections  14  and  23,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W.  From  this  place  it  trends  towards 
the  southeast,  becoming  most  prominent  about  one  mile  north  of  Babylon 
in  sec.  11,  T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E.,  where  the  structure  appears  rather  favorable 
for  the  accumulation  of  oil.  In  a  few  places  in  the  southeast  quarter  of 
the  Avon  quadrangles  irregularities  of  structure  of  small  extent  are  present, 


AVON-CANTON    AREA:      OIL    AND    GAS    POSSIBILITIES  271 

but  no  place  particularly  favorable  for  the  accumulation  of  oil  and  gas  could 
be  mentioned. 

If  the  Hoing  sand  is  found  in  one  or  more  of  these  places,  and  no  oil 
or  water  is  encountered,  tests  might  be  made  farther  down  the  slope  to  find 
out  whether  the  absence  of  oil  in  the  higher  parts  was  due  to  the  absence 
of  water  farther  down  the  dip. 


Li- 


272 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 


MAP    OK 

ILLINOIS 


Fig.  43.     Index  map  showing  the  locations  of  clay  samples  and  the  approximat 
the  outcrop  of  the  Cheltenham  clay. 


e  position  of 


FURTHER  INVESTIGATIONS  OF  ILLINOIS 
FIRE  CLAYS 

By  C.  W.  Parmelee  and  C.  R.  Schroyer 


OUTLINE 

TAGE 

Foreword 276 

Introduction :     A  general  discussion   of   clays 277 

The    classification    of    clays 277 

Purpose   and   difficulties    277 

A   proposed  classification    278 

Types   and  uses   of   clays 280 

Kaolin  and  china  clay 280 

Secondary  kaolins    280 

Ball    clay    281 

Refractory   clays    281 

Plastic  refractory  bond  clays 283 

Architectural  terra  cotta  clays 284 

Stoneware    clays     285 

Sagger  clays   285 

Sanitary  ware  clays    286 

Paving  brick  clays 286 

Face  brick  clays   286 

Conservation  of  clays 287 

The  physical  properties  and  the  methods  of  testing  the  clays 287 

Preliminary   preparation    280 

The   test  pieces    289 

Formation     289 

Drying     290 

Raw  clays  :  their  properties  and  the  methods  of  testing 290 

Shrinkage    290 

Linear    290 

Volume    290 

Water  of  plasticity   291 

Shrinkage  water  291 

Pore  water  291 

Fineness     292 

Slaking    292 

Transverse  strength    293 

Bonding  strength   293 

Burned  clays  :  their  properties  and  methods  of  testing 294 

Pyrometric  methods  used   294 

Burning    shrinkage    297 

Porosity    297 

Color 297 

Fusion,  or  deformation  tests   297 

Distribution  of  Illinois  clays   298 

273 


274  YEAR  BOOK  FOR    1917  AND   1918 

PAGE 

Clays   of    the    embayment   area    299 

Paleozoic  floor  and  border 299 

Correlation  and  division  of  the  embayment  deposits 299 

Cretaceous  system   303 

Upper  Cretaceous  series 303 

Ripley  formation    303 

Lithologic   character    303 

Tertiary   system    304 

Eocene  series 304 

M  idway  formation 304 

Lithologic   character    305 

Wilcox  group   306 

Pliocene  series    307 

Quaternary   system    308 

Pleistocene    series    308 

Loess    308 

Recent  series   308 

Alluvial   deposits    308 

Elevation  of  the  Illinois  embayment  clays 309 

Field   and   laboratory    notes   on   the   embayment   clays 310 

Union  County,  Mountain  Glen  area 310 

Pits  of  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company 310 

Pits  of  the  French  Clay  Blending  Company 313 

Goodman  pit   313 

Location  and  methods  of  working 313 

Geology    314 

Mines  of  Frederick  E.  Bausch 316 

Location  and  method  of  working 316 

Geology  316 

Elmer    Gant   mine 316 

T.   P.  Sifford  pit 317 

Maddox  and  Nixon  pits 317 

Smaller    pits    317 

Comparison   with   the   clays    near    Mayfield,    Kentucky 319 

Comparison  with  the  clays  of  Lutesville,   Missouri 319 

■     Results  of  tests    320 

Massac   County    332 

Paducah  Pottery  Company's  pit 332 

Clays  from  the  vicinity  of  Round  Knob 332 

Clay  from  the  Obermark  property 332 

Results   of   tests    333 

Pulaski    County    335 

Clays  from  the  vicinity  of  Grand  Chain 335 

Clay  from  the  vicinity  of  Caledonia 336 

Results  of   tests    336 

Alexander    County    342 

Clays  from  the  Aetna  Powder  Company's  land 342 

Results  of  tests    342 

Clays    of    Pennsylvanian    age 344 

Field  and  laboratory  notes  on  Pennsylvanian  clays 344 

Monroe  County 344 

Results  of  tests 344 

Madison  County  346 

Results  of  tests   346 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS  275 

PAGE 

Calhoun  County    349 

Results  of  tests    349 

Greene   County    350 

Results  of  tests    352 

Scott  County   362 

Results  of  tests  364 

Pike   County    366 

Results  of  tests    367 

Adams   County    370 

Brown    County    370 

Schuyler   County    370 

McDonough   County    370 

Results  of  tests   373 

Fulton    County    380 

Results  of  tests    380 

Mercer  County   381 

Results  of  tests    381 

Rock  Island  County 383 

Results  of  tests 383 

La   Salle   County    386 

Results  of  tests    393 

Grundy  County   409 

Results  of  tests    410 

Johnson   County    413 

Results  of  tests 414 

Tabulation  of  certain  physical  tests 414 

Summary :  Grouping  of  clays  according  to  uses 41 7 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIGURE  PAGE 

43.  Index   map    showing   the   location    from  which   clay   samples   were   taken   and 

the   approximate  position  of   the   Cheltenham   clay   horizon 272 

44.  Hand  plunger  machine  for  molding  briquets 288 

45.  Apparatus  for  saturating  briquets  in  vacuo 296 

46.  Map   showing  the   outcrop   of   the   embayment   deposits   in    Illinois   with   their 

relations    to    similar   deposits    farther   south 300 

47.  Diagrammatic  sketches  of  the  "K"  pit  of  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company 311 

48.  View  of  the  southwest  wall  of  the  "K"  pit  of  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company.  312 

49.  View  of  Dr.  Goodman's  mine  in  the  NW.  l/A  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W 314 

50.  Sketch  made  at  the  mouth  of  the  Goodman  shaft 315 

51.  Map   of   the   Mountain   Glen   area.     The   lands   known  to   include   deposits   of 

clay  having  proven  or  probable  commercial  value  are  indicated  by  shading  318 

52.  Sketch  showing  the  clay  body  and  its   relations  to  the  surrounding  strata  at 

the  Paducah  Pottery  Company's  clay  pit  north  of  Choat 332 

53.  Abandoned  fire  clay  pit  at  Golden  Eagle 349 

54.  View  of  the  Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Company's  pit  half  a  mile  north  of  Col- 

chester, showing  No.  2  coal  near  the  top  and  stoneware  clay  at  the  base.  372 

55.  View   of   the   Utica  Firebrick  and   Clay   Company's   pit  south   of   Utica ;    No. 

2  coal  overlies  the  clay 387 

56.  View   of   the   clay  pit   at  the   west   end   of   the   Goose   Lake   area   in    Grundy 

County 410 

TABLE 
44.     Subdivisions  of  the  embayment  deposits .302 


276  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

FOREWORD 

Very  early  during  the  participation  of  the  United  States  in  the  World 
War,  the  importance  of  a  better  knowledge  of  the  extent  and  character  of 
the  refractory  clay  resources  of  Illinois  was  recognized.  The  cessation  of 
importations  of  certain  types  of  such  clays  which  had  previously  been 
brought  from  enemy  countries  had  made  it  imperative  that  domestic  clays 
of  suitable  sorts  should  be  discovered,  if  possible.  Further,  the  general 
disturbance  of  the  economic  life  by  the  war  had  greatly  increased  the  costs 
and  difficulties  of  transportation  and  emphasized  the  necessity  for  a  more 
comprehensive  survey  of  these  clays  than  had  yet  been  undertaken  by  the 
State. 

Consequently,  Mr.  C.  R.  Schroyer  of  the  Survey  was  assigned  the  duty 
of  visiting  deposits,  gathering  the  samples,  and  making  the  necessary  studies 
of  the  geological  conditions.  Prof.  Cullen  W.  Parmelee  of  the  Department 
of  Ceramic  Engineering  of  the  University  of  Illinois  was  given  charge  of  the 
testing  of  the  clays  which  was  done  in  the  laboratories  of  the  department 
mentioned. 

All  known  clay  deposits  which  gave  promise  of  being  of  refractory 
value  were  examined  and  areas  which  had  not  been  previously  investigated 
were  carefully  searched.    Fig.  43  shows  the  locations  of  all  deposits  sampled. 

The  work  was  well  advanced  when  the  armistice  was  signed,  but  the 
cessation  of  hostilities  was  not  considered  a  justification  for  termination  of 
the  investigation  since  it  was  recognized  that  the  results  would  have  very 
considerable  permanent  economic  value.  Therefore,  the  work  has  been 
somewhat  extended  and  a  few  clays  of  a  non-refractory  type  have  been 
included  since  the  samples  were  already  at  hand. 

Since  the  clays  of  the  embayment  area  in  the  southern  counties  of  the 
state  have  proved  to  be  of  unusual  interest,  it  was  thought  desirable  to 
study  their  relation  to  the  very  important  deposits  of  the  embayment  area 
in  western  Tennessee  and  Kentucky.  The  authors  of  the  bulletin,  together 
with  Dr.  H.  Ries  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  visited  the  deposits  of 
western  Kentucky  and,  accompanied  by  Mr.  Wilbur  A.  Nelson,  State  Geolo- 
gist of  Tennessee,  visited  those  of  the  latter  state. 

A  visit  was  also  made  to  the  deposits  at  Lutesville  and  Glen  Allen,  Mis- 
souri, in  order  to  determine  what  relation,  if  any,  existed  between  that  area 
and  clay  deposits  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state. 

The  authors  therefore  wish  to  express  their  appreciation  of  the  assist- 
ance extended  to  them  by  the  gentlemen  named,  as  well  as  the  many  citizens 
of  this  State  who  have  contributed  in  various  ways  to  the  successful  prosecu- 
tion of  this  work.    ' 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      CLASSIFICATION    OF    CLAYS  277 

INTRODUCTION:     A  GENERAL  DISCUSSION  OF  CLAYS 

By  C.  W.  Parmelee 

The  Classification  of  Clays 
purpose  and  difficulties 

It  is  possible  to  classify  clays  in  many  ways;  as  for  example,  mode  of 
origin,  mineralogical  character,  physical  properties,  and  uses,  and  several 
such  classifications1  have  been  published.  The  classification  here  presented 
is  an  attempt  to  correlate  certain  physical  properties  with  uses. 

Difficulties  are  experienced  in  such  an  attempt  because  of  the  incomplete 
state  of  our  knowledge  of  clays  and  clay  products.  We  still  have  much  to 
learn  about  the  properties  of  the  unburned  and  the  burned  clays  and  their 
products. 

Much  information  has  been  gathered  through  the  agencies  of  the 
American  Ceramic  Society  and  other  similar  organizations,  the  various 
geological  surveys,  industrial  laboratories,  and  research  conducted  at  the 
various  universities.  Through  cooperation  of  these  various  agencies,  stand- 
ard methods  of  testing  are  being  devised  and  standard  specifications  pre- 
pared, but  the  task  is  a  large  one  and  is  made  particularly  difficult  because 
of  our  ignorance  of  much  that  is  fundamental  relating  to  the  material. 

One  of  the  benefits  which  may  be  attributed  to  the  recent  war  was  the 
impetus  given  to  the  investigation  of  these  problems.  As  consequences  of 
this,  not  only  has  the  knowledge  of  our  clay  resources  been  extended,  but 
much  has  been  learned  about  the  requirements  to  be  met  by  the  raw  mate- 
rials and  also  the  conditions  which  the  finished  product  should  satisfy.  A 
better  understanding  of  these  conditions  has  brought  about  a  notable  improve- 
ment in  the  products. 

Any  economic  classification  of  clays  made  at  this  time  is  to  be  regarded 
as  only  tentative,  for  the  reason  previously  mentioned,  namely,  the  incom- 
plete state  of  our  knowledge  of  the  properties  of  the  raw  materials  which 
gives  them  especial  value  in  the  manufacture  of  certain  products.  Further, 
in  the  consideration  of  such  a  classification  it  must  be  remembered  that  with 
the  exception  of  certain  products  of  the  cruder  sort,  it  is  the  practice  to 
blend  two  or  more  clays  which  are  commonly  of  quite  different  kinds,  with 
a  view  to  obtaining  mixtures  which  may  be  formed  into  wares  without 
too  much  difficulty  or  loss,  and  which  will  possess  the  desired  properties. 
Therefore,  in  the  following  classification,  an  attempt  has  been  made  to  indi- 
cate what  may  be  called  the  primary  uses  or,  in  other  words,  those  for  which 
the  clay  is  particularly  adapted.  This  does  not  exclude  clays  from  uses  for 
purposes  not  specified.  For  example,  a  superior  fire  clay  may  be  suited  for 
the  manufacture  of  common  brick.  Its  primary  usefulness,  however,  may 
be  regarded  as  for  firebrick  since  it  will  be  most  valuable  manufactured  into 
that  product. 


!Ries.   TT.     Clays;    their  occurrence,   properties  and   uses:    p.   23,    1914. 


278  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

A  PROPOSED  CLASSIFICATION1 

The  clays  are  classified   for   use  according  to  the  physical  properties 
which  give  them  especial  value  for  specific  purposes. 
I.    Clays  Burning  White  or  Cream  Colored,  not  Calcareous 

A.  open  burning  clays,  i.  e.,  still  distinctly  porous  at  cone  15 

1.  Low  strength,  e.  g.,  residual  kaolins  such  as  those  from  North  Caro- 
lina 

2.  Medium  and  high  strength,  e.  g.,  secondary  kaolins  such  as  those  from 
Florida  and  Georgia 

Clays  of  the  open  burning  type  are  of  value  in  the  manufacture  of  pot- 
tery because  of  their  good  color  or  because  of  the  good  strength  and  good 
color.  These  clays  are  frequently  of  a  good  or  high  degree  of  refractoriness. 
If  of  a  good  color,  they  may  be  used  for  special  refractories  such  as  pots  for 
melting  optical  glass  ;  or  the  color  may  be  of  secondary  importance  and  the 
clays  may  be  valued  for  their  refractoriness  only 

B.  clays  burning  dense,  i.  e.,  become  nearly  or  completely  non-porous  between 
cones  10  and  15 

a.  Non-refractory  clays  : 

3.  Good  color,  medium  to  high  strength,  medium  shrinkage.  Uses :  Pot- 
tery, including  certain  whiteware,  porcelains,  stoneware 

4.  Poor  color,  medium  to  high  strength,  medium  shrinkage.  Uses  :  Stone- 
ware, terra  cotta,  abrasive  wheels,  zinc  retorts,  face  brick,  saggars 

b.  Refractory  clays  : 

5.  Good  color,  medium  to  high  strength,  medium  shrinkage.  Uses :  Re- 
fractories, especially  for  glass,  if  they  do  not  overburn  seriously  for  5 
cones  higher.     Also  uses  stated  in  3 

C.  dense  burning  clays,  i.  e.,  become  nearly  or  completely  non-porous  between 
cones  5  and  10  and  do  not  overlburn  seriously  at  5  cones  higher  than  the  tem- 
perature  at  which  minimum  porosity   is   reached 

a.  Non-refractory  clays  : 

6.  Good  color,  medium  to  high  strength,  medium  shrinkage;  usually  reach 
minimum  porosity  between  cones  5  and  8.  Type :  Ball  clays.  Uses : 
Pottery,  whiteware,  porcelain,  and  stoneware 

7.  Poor  color,  medium  to  high  strength,  medium  shrinkage.  Uses:  Stone- 
ware, terra  cotta,  abrasive  wheels,  zinc  retorts,  face  brick,  saggars 

b.  Refractory  clays  : 

8.  Non-porous  or  practically  so  at  cone  5  ;  do  not  seriously  overburn  for 
12  cones  higher;  highly  refractory;  softening  point  at  cone  31  or  higher; 
bonding  strength  minimum  325  pounds  per  square  inch.  Use  :  Graphite 
cucibles  for  melting  brass.2 

9.  Non-porous  at  about  1275°  C.  (cone  8),  not  overfiring  at  1400°  C.  or 
higher.     Strength  and  softening  point  as  above2.     Use  :   Steel  crucibles 

10.  Become  dense  at  about  1275°  C.  (cone  8).  Do  not  overburn  below 
1425°  C.  Bonding  strength,  250  pounds  per  square  inch  or  higher.  Soft- 
ening point,  cone  29  or  higher2.     Use  :  glass  pots 


iThis  classification  relates  only  to  the  uses  of  clays  for  burned  products  and  conse- 
quently no  consideration  is  given  to  its  uses  as  filler  for  paoer  or  cloth,  as  a  pigment,  etc. 

For  a  definition  of  the  terms  "refractory"'  and  "non -refractory"  as  used  in  this  classi- 
fication and  throughout  the  report,  see  page  281.  For  the  terms  "medium"  and  high 
strength,"  see  page  290  et  seq. 

-See  page  284. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      CLASSIFICATION    OF    CLAYS  279 

II.  Buff  Burning  Clays 

A.  REFRACTORY   CLAYS 

a.  Open  burning,  i.  e.,  having  a  porosity  of  5  per  cent  or  more  at  cone  15  or 
above : 

Indurated — non-plastic  or  slightly  plastic  unless  it 
has  been  weathered.     Type:    flint  clay. 

11.  Normally  aluminous;    maximum  alumina  40%.     Use:    Refractories 

12.  Highly  aluminous ;  alumina  exceeds  40%.  Type:  Diaspore  clay.  Uses: 
Refractories,  abrasives 

Plastic 

13.  Normally  siliceous;  maximum  silica  not  exceeding  65%.  Uses:  Fire- 
brick and  other  refractory  wares,  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  glazed  and 
enamelled  brick  (see  specific  requirements  for  these  below) 

14.  Siliceous;  having  a  silica  content  above  65%.  Type:  Many  of  the  New 
Jersey  fire  clays.    Uses  :    Firebrick  and  other  refractories 

b.  Dense  burning  between  cones  10  and  15,  i.e.,  attaining  a  minimum  porosity 
of  5%  or  less  within  that  range: 

15.  Medium  to  high  strength.  Do  not  overburn  for  5  cones  higher  than 
point  of  minimum  porosity.  Uses:  Glass  pots  and  other  refractories; 
also  used  for  firebrick,  saggars  and  miscellaneous  refractories,  archi- 
tectural terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  enamelled  and  face  brick 

c.  Dense  burning,  i.  e.,  attaining  a  porosity  of  5%  or  less  at  cone  10  or  lower: 

16.  See  8 

17.  See  9 

18.  See  10 

These  three  classes,  16,  17  and  18,  are  used  also  for  zinc  retorts,  fire- 
brick, saggars,  and  miscellaneous  refractories,  architectural  terra  cotta, 
sanitary  ware,  enamelled  and  face  brick 

B.  NON-REFRACTORY    CLAYS 

a.  Open  burning,  i.  e.,   do  not  attain   a  porosity  of  5%   or  less   at  any  cone 
lower  than  cone  10  : 

19.  High  or  medium  strength.  Uses  :  Architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware, 
yellow  ware,  face  brick,  sanitary  ware 

20.  Low  strength.     Use :    Brick 

b.  Dense  burning,  i.  e.,  attain  a  porosity  of  less  than  5%  at  cones  lower  than  10  : 

21.  High  or  medium  strength.  Uses:  Architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware, 
abrasive  wheels,  sanitary  ware,  face  brick,  paving  brick 

III.  Clays  Burning  Red,  Brown,  or  Other  Dark  Colors 

A.  open  burning  clays,  i.  e.,  those  that  do  not  attain  low  porosity  at  any  tem- 

perature short  of  actual  fusion 

22.  Medium  or  high  strength.  Uses  :  Brick,  drain  tile,  hollow  blocks,  flower 
pots,  pencil  clays,  ballast 

23.  Low  strength.    Use :    Brick 

B.  DENSE    BURNING    CLAYS 

a.    Having  a  long  vitrification  range  (5  cones)  : 

24.  High  or  medium  strength.  Uses  :  Conduits,  sewer  pipe,  paving  brick, 
floor  tile  or  quarries,  electrical  porcelain,  cooking  ware,  silo  block,  art 
ware,  face  brick,  architectural  terra  cotta,  roofing  tile 

25.  Low  strength.  Uses:  As  dust  body  in  the  manufacture  of  electrical 
porcelain,  floor  tile,  building  brick 


280  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

b.  Having  a  short  vitrification  range : 

26.  High   or  medium   strength.     Uses :    Building  brick,   face  brick,  hollow 
block,  flower  pots 

c.  Fusing  at  a  low  temperature,  approximately  cone  5,  to  form  a  glass : 

27.  Slip  clays 

IV.  Clays  Burning  Dirty  White,  Cream  White,  or  Yellowish  White 

28.  Containing  calcium  or  magnesium  carbonate  or  both.    Never  reach  very 
low  porosity.     Have  a  very  short  heat  range.    Use :    Common  brick 

Types  and  Uses  of  Clays 

In  the  "Clay  Classification,"  references  are  made  to  certain  types  of 
clays  which  have  been  found  adapted  to  special  uses.  In  the  following  brief 
descriptions  an  endeavor  is  made  to  state  the  characteristics  of  such.  How- 
ever, the  fact  that  a  clay  is  designated  a  terra  cotta  clay  or  a  sanitary  ware 
clay,  for  example,  does  not  necessarily  mean  that  the  clay  constitutes  a  dis- 
tinct type,  and  the  attempt  has  been  merely  to  describe  the  kind  of  material 
which  is  sought  for  the  use  indicated.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  for  many  pur- 
poses it  is  quite  impossible  to  define  the  characteristics  closely. 

KAOLIN   OR   CHINA   CLAY 

The  true  kaolin  is  residual  in  its  origin.  It  has  a  low  degree  of  plasticity, 
low  strength,  low  shrinkage  both  in  drying  and  burning,  and  after  purification 
by  washing  is  refractory.  The  term  kaolin  is  used  in  this  country  for  the 
same  type  of  material  as  that  designated  by  the  English  potter  as  china  clay, 
and  kaolins  are  used  for  the  same  purposes  as  china  clays.  Since  there  would 
be  an  advantage  in  introducing  a  distinction  between  the  terms,  it  has  been 
proposed  to  restrict  the  term  kaolin  to  the  crude  material  and  china  clay  to 
that  which  has  been  purified  for  the  market.1 

Kaolins  do  not  always  burn  white.  Some  that  are  so  badly  stained  that 
they  are  unsuited  for  use  by  the  potter,  may  have  considerable  value  if 
refractory.  True  kaolins  have  not  been  found  in  the  State,  nor  is  there 
much  likelihood  of  such  a  discovery.  The  so-called  kaolins  of  Union  County 
are  misnamed. 

secondary  kaolins 

These  differ  in  origin  from  the  true  kaolins  in  that  they  have  been 
transported  from  the  place  of  origin  by  water  and  laid  down  in  extensive 
beds.  They  are  more  plastic,  stronger,  and  have  higher  shrinkages.  They 
burn  white,  although  not  quite  equalling  the  best  residual  kaolins.  They 
are  adapted  to  uses  similar  to  those  of  the  true  kaolins. 


iMellor,  J.   W.,  A  note  on  the  nomenclature  of  clays :   Trans.   English   Ceramic  Soc. 
VIII,  p.  23. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      TYPES    AND    USES  281 

BALL    CLAY 

These  are  highly  plastic,  strong  clays  which  burn  cream  white  or  a 
very  light  buff  and  vitrify  between  cones  5  and  10,  so  that  they  are  non- 
absorbent.  No  ball  clays  have  been  located  in  Illinois,  although  the  so-called 
kaolins  of  Union  County  have  the  characteristics  of  this  type.  It  is  possible 
that  some  of  the  stoneware  clays  of  the  State  may  be  of  a  sufficiently  good 
quality  after  washing  to  permit  their  use  for  some  of  the  purposes  for  which 
ball  clay  is  suitable.  Ball  clays  are  sedimentary  in  their  origin.  The  drying 
shrinkage  is  ordinarily  less  than  10  per  cent ;  the  modulus  of  rupture  as 
determined  by  the  cross-breaking  strength  test  varies  between  200  and  500 
pounds  the  square  inch,  with  an  average  of  350  pounds ;  the  tensile  strength 
per  square  inch  varies  between  125  and  150  pounds;  the  total  shrinkage  at 
cone  10  varies  between  16  and  20  per  cent.  The  water  of  plasticity  varies 
between  27  and  43  per  cent  with  an  average  of  32.6  per  cent. 

REFRACTORY   CLAYS 

Clays  are  designated  as  refractory  if  they  are  capable  of  withstanding 
high  temperatures  without  showing  signs  of  fusion  such  as  deformation, 
i.  e.,  loss  of  shape,  or  softening  to  a  fluid  state. 

Since  all  clays  are  able  to  withstand  relatively  high  temperatures,  and 
since  no  standard  has  yet  been  adopted,  it  becomes  necessary  to  define  more 
precisely  what  is  meant  by  the  term  refractory  clay.  Purdy1  and  Bleininger2 
have  suggested  cone  26,  and  Ries3  has  named  cone  31  as  the  boundary 
between  the  refractory  and  the  semi-refractory  clays  with  cone  27  as  the 
lower  limit  for  the  latter  clays.  For  purposes  of  this  bulletin,  all  clays  which 
fuse  at  cone  27  or  higher  are  considered  to  be  refractory  and  those  which 
fuse  at  cone  33  or  above  are  classified  as  highly  refractory. 

The  term  fireclay  has  come  to  be  used  in  a  broader  sense  than  is  con- 
noted by  mere  refractoriness.  It  is  now  applied,  at  least  in  the  middle  west, 
to  clays  which  have  some  of  the  characteristics  of  the  true  fireclays  without 
regard  to  their  ability  to  withstand  very  high  temperatures.  Commercially 
they  have  been  divided  into  three  classes  which  are  known  as  No.  1,  No.  2, 
and  No.  3.  The  separation  into  these  three  grades  has  to  a  large  extent 
been  left  to  the  convenience  of  the  miner  who  wishes  to  make  a  distinction 
between  materials  but  lacks  the  means  for  differentiating  explicitly.  Some 
attempt  has  been  made  to  standardize  these  terms :  for  example,  Bleininger4 
prescribes  the  lower  limit  of  the  softening  temperature  of  No.  1  fireclay  as 

iPurdy,  R.  C,  and  DeWolf,  F.  W.,  Preliminary  investigation  of  Illinois  Are  clays: 
111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.   4,  p.   149,   1907. 

-Bleininger,  A.  V.,  The  testing  of  clay  refractories  :  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  Tech. 
Paper  No.   7,  p.   15,   1912. 

SRies,  H.,  The  clays  and  clay  industry  of  New  Jersey:  New  Jersey  Geol.  Survey, 
Final  Rept.  Vol.  VI,  p.  311,   1904. 

^Bleininger,  A.  V.,  The  testing  of  clay  refractories:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  Tech. 
Paper  No.   7,  p.   44,   1912. 


282  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

cone  32 ;  and  further,  according  to  Purdy,1  the  time-temperature  rate  of  vitri- 
fication is  very  slow  so  that  it  attains  a  low  porosity  only  at  a  very  high 
temperature,  if  at  all. 

The  term  No.  2  fireclay  is  peculiar  to  the  middle  west.  Not  infrequently 
it  is  used  by  a  clay  miner  to  designate  a  grade  which  is  inferior  to  the  best 
which  he  is  mining.  However,  the  term  is  most  frequently  employed  to  desig- 
nate a  clay  wThich  burns  to  a  light  color — a  cream,  buff,  or  light  tan — and 
attains  a  low  porosity  at  some  temperature  between  cone  5  and  cone  11. 
These  limits  have  been  arbitrarily  set  by  the  writer  since,  with  the  exception 
of  some  work  done  by  Purdy2  no  attempt  has  been  made  to  define  the  term 
with  exactness.  These  clays  are  somewhat  less  refractory  than  the  No.  1 
grade  and  burn  to  a  dense  structure  which  makes  them  unsuited  as  the  chief 
clay  component  for  the  manufacture  of  the  best  grade  of  firebrick.  The 
fact  that  the  term  No.  2  fireclay  in  some  cases  connotes  "second-grade"  and 
the  fact  that  use  of  this  clay  in  the  manufacture  of  this  particular  product 
is  limited,  should  not  be  misunderstood  and  the  class  consequently  under- 
valued, for  amongst  these  No.  2  fireclays  some  of  the  most  useful  of  the 
fireclays  are  found.  The  refractory  clays  of  this  class  which  have  high 
strength  are  indispensable  in  the  manufacture  of  crucibles,  zinc  retorts,  and 
glass  refractories,  and  those  of  good  strength  are  necessary  as  the  bonding 
agent  for  the  No.  1  fireclays  in  the  manufacture  of  the  best  grade  firebrick. 

According  to  Mr.  Purdy3  the  No.  2  fireclays  may  fuse  as  low  as  cone 
16  and  may  be  as  high  as  cone  26,  which  is  the  minimum  refractoriness  of  a 
No.  1  fireclay.  Bleininger4  states  that  "There  is  no  sharp  distinction  between 
the  No.  1  and  the  No.  2  fireclays,  and  any  lower  limits  that  may  be  set  must 
be,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  arbitrary."  Further  he  states5  that  "cone  28 
might  be  considered  the  limit  below  which  a  satisfactory  bond  clay  should 
not  soften."  This  is  not  incompatible  with  the  experience  of  Mr.  Purdy6 
since  he  found  that  the  "fusion  point  [of  the  No.  1  clavs]  in  the  majority 
of  cases  does  not  exceed  that  of  the  so-called  No.  2  fireclays." 

It  would  seem  from  the  above  references  that  there  is  much  confusion 
in  the  use  of  the  term  No.  2  fireclay.  In  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  the  term 
should  be  abandoned  in  technical  literature  and  its  use  otherwise  discouraged 
for  two  reasons:  ( 1 )  it  carries  with  it  an  implication  of  inferiority  which 
is  most  unfortunate  since  many  of  the  clays  which  may  be  grouped  under 
this  class  are  quite  as  valuable  and  indispensable  as  those  which  we  call  the 
No.  1  fireclays;  and  (2)  it  makes  no  distinction  between  the  refractory  clays 


iRolfe,  C.  W..  Purdy,  R.  C,  Talbot,  A.  N..  and  Baker.  I.  O..  Paving-  brick  and  paving- 
brick  clays  of  Illinois.     111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.   9,  p.  270,  1908. 

2Ibid..  p.   272. 

3Purdy,  R.  C,  and  DeWolf.  F.  W..  Preliminary  investigations  of  Illinois  fire  clays: 
111.   State  Geol.   Survey  Pull.   4.  d.   139.   1907. 

^Bleininger,  A.  V..  The  testing  of  clay  refractories:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  Tech. 
Paper  No.   7,  p.   45,   1912. 

sibid.,  p.  45. 

sPurdy,  R.  C,  and  DeWolf,  F.  W.,  Preliminary  investigations  of  Illinois  fire  clays: 
111.  State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.   4,   p.    139,   1907. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      TYPES    AND    USES  283 

and  those  which  are  non-refractory.  In  other  words,  the  term  is  used  to 
include  those  clays  which  are  not  fireclays  in  the  strict  interpretation  of  the 
term.  It  seems  to  the  writer  to  be  more  desirable  to  use  a  terminology  such 
as  proposed  in  the  classification  on  pages  10  to  12. 

The  use  of  the  term  No.  3  fireclays  seems  to  be  equally  unfortunate. 
These  have  been  described  by  Purdy1  as  seldom  having  fusion  points  exceed- 
ing cones  16  and  17.  He  differentiates  them  from  the  No.  2  fireclays  on  the 
basis  of  the  rate  of  temperature-porosity  changes.  Since  the  basis  of  the 
distinction  is  not  refractoriness  and  the  type  clay  is  non- refractory,  it  would 
therefore  be  better  to  avoid  the  use  of  the  word  fireclay.  There  are  refrac- 
tory clays  which  have  a  rate  of  temperature-porosity  change  which  would 
place  them  in  this  group.  Because  of  other  physical  properties,  they  are 
adapted  for  use  for  specific  purposes  which  gives  them  an  especial  value : 
for  example,  the  crucible  clays  and  those  used  for  zinc  retorts.  It  would 
seem  a  mistake  to  group  this  type  indiscriminately  with  the  non-refractory 
clays  simply  because  of  the  rate  of  temperature-porosity  change. 

The  method  of  studying  clays  by  means  of  the  temperature-porosity 
changes  has  been  found  to  be  exceedingly  useful,  although  the  scheme  of 
classification  which  Mr.  Purdy .  proposed  as  based  upon  the  rate  of  these 
changes  has  been  subject  to  criticism  by  later  investigators.2  Some  of  the 
difficulties  encountered  were  anticipated  by  him  in  the  statement  "it  is  possi- 
ble that  broader  limits  will  be  determined  when  more  and  a  larger  variety  of 
clays  are  tested."  Beecher3  in  his  study  of  Iowa  clays  attempted  to  use  the 
proposed  classification  but  found  several  marked  irregularities.  It  is  difficult 
to  understand  these  with  our  present  limited  knowledge  of  the  mineralogical 
and  chemical  constitution  of  clays.  However,  it  points  to  the  necessity  for 
broader  knowledge  of  these  matters.  As  previously  stated,  the  method  of 
study  has  been  widely  adopted  and  has  been  very  fruitful. 

PLASTIC  REFRACTORY  BOND  CLAYS 

These  clays  are  used  in  the  manufacture  of  crucibles,  glass  pots,  zinc 
retorts,  and  miscellaneous  glass  house  refractories.  They  are  used  in  mix- 
tures with  less  plastic  clays  and  with  non-plastic  materials.  According  to 
the  investigations  of  A.  V.  Bleininger  and  his  associates  at  the  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Standards,4,5  the  requirements  to  be  met  by  these  clays  are  as 
follows : 


iRolfe,  C.  W.,  Purdy.  R.  C.  Talbot,  A.  N.,  and  Baker,  I.  O.:  Paving  brick  and 
paving  brick  clays  of  Illinois:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  9,  p.  272,  1908. 

2Bleininger,  A.  V.,  The  testing  of  clay  refractories  :  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  Tech. 
Paper  No.   7,  p.   44,   1912. 

^Beecher,  Milton  F..  Iowa  State  College  Eng.  Exp.   Station  Bull.   40,  p.   88,   1915. 

4Bleininger,  A.  V.,  Properties  of  American  bond  clavs,  etc.  ;  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Stand- 
ards, Tech.  Paper  No.  144,   1920. 

"'Bleininger.  A.  V.,  and  Schurecht,  H.  G.,  Properties  of  some  European  plastic  Are 
clays:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standards  Tech.  Paper  No.  79,  1916. 


284  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

The  siliceous  clays  and  those  for  glass  refractories  should  not  soften  below 
cone  30;  for  severe  service  the  softening  point  should  be  above  cone  31.  In 
consideration  of  the  clay  having  other  desirable  properties,  some  modification 
of  this  may  be  made ;  for  example,  a  very  well  known  foreign  clay  which 
formerly  was  widely  used  softened  at  about  cone  28.  The  water  of  plasticity 
varies  between  30  and  45  per  cent ;  the  linear  drying  shrinkage  should  lie 
between  6.5  and  10  per  cent;  the  plasticity  should  be  high;  the  strength  as 
measured  in  terms  of  bonding  power  expressed  as  modulus  of  rupture, 
obtained  by  testing  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  the  clay  and  grog  is  325 
pounds  per  square  inch  for  Class  A,  and  225  pounds  per  square  inch  for 
Class  B.  A  classification1  made  according  to  the  burning  conduct  is  as  fol- 
lows : 

1— Burn  dense   at  about    1150°    C.    (2102°    F.)    and   not   overfired  at 
1400°   C.   (2552°   F.).     Especially  suited  for  graphite  crucibles  for 
brass  melting. 
2 — Burn  dense  at  about   1275°   C.   (2327°   F.)   and  do  not  overfire  at 
1400°  C.   (2552°  F.)  or  higher.     Suited  for  crucibles  for  steel  and 
valuable  for  glass  refractories  if  they  do  not  overburn  below  1425° 
C.  (2597°  F.). 
3— Burn  dense  at   1425°   C.    (2597°    F.)    or  higher.     May  overfire  at 
1450°    C.    (2647°    F.)    or  above.     Valuable   for  glass   refractories. 
4— Burn  dense  between  1150°  C.  (2102°  F.)  and  1300°  C.  (2372°  F.) 
and  have  short  heat  range.     Unsuited  for  refractory  bond  clay. 

The  above  classification  applies  to  clays  burned  at  the  rate  of  20°  C. 
(36°  F.)  per  hour  above  800°  C.  (1472°  F.). 

According  to  M.  G.  Babcock2  the  requirements  of  a  zinc  retort  clay  are: 
Considerable  strength  and  bonding  power;  a  linear  shrinkage  between  4  and 
6.5  per  cent;  a  porosity-temperature  range  from  10  per  cent  at  1150°  C. 
(2102°  F.)  to  about  5  per  cent  at  1250°  C.  (2282°  F.)  ;  it  should  not  over- 
burn  lower  than  1400°  C.  (2552°  F.)  ;  deformation  point  should  not  be 
below  cone  30. 

ARCHITECTURAL  TERRA  COTTA  CLAYS 

These  are  similar  to  the  stoneware  clays.  They  should  be  free  from 
pyrites,  concretions,  soluble  salts,  gypsum,  coaly  forms  of  carbon,  and  other 
objectionable  forms  of  foreign  materials,  because  the  clays  are  rarely  washed 
before  using.  The  presence  of  free  silica  in  excess  of  3  per  cent  in  the  form 
of  grains  which  will  not  pass  a  200  mesh  sieve  is  considered  objectionable 
by  one  firm  of  manufacturers.  The  red-burning  clays  are  seldom  used  for 
this  purpose  since  they  are  not  as  well-suited  as  are  the  light  cream  or  light 


iBleininger.  A.  V..  and  Loomis.  G.  A.,  The  properties  of  some  American  bond  clays: 
Trans,  of  the  American  Ceramic  Soc,  Vol.   19,  p.   606,   1917. 

-Babcock,  M.  G.,  Refractories  for  the  zinc  industry:  Jour.  Am.  Cer.  Soc,  Vol.  2, 
p.  81,   1919. 


ILLINOIS   FIRE  CLAYS:      TYPES  AND  USES  285 

buff  colors  for  the  type  of  decoration  ordinarily  applied  to  this  product. 
The  clays  should  have  a  good  plasticity  and  be  strong,  but  those  which  are 
sticky  or  rubbery  when  in  the  plastic  condition  are  avoided.  Since  the  terra 
cotta  bodies  are  compounded  of  mixtures  of  clays  and  grog  (i.e.,  ground 
burned  clay),  the  manufacturer  may  control  the  shrinkages  very  readily, 
but  it  is  desirable  that  the  shrinkages  of  the  clays  used  should  be  low  or 
medium.  The  clays  should  slake  readily  when  wet  with  water,  so  that  they 
may  be  brought  to  a  uniformly  plastic  mass  without  delay.  Usually  two  or 
more  clays  are  used  in  the  batch.  One  of  these  at  least  should  burn  dense 
at  some  temperature  within  the  ordinary  range,  namely,  between  cones  1  and 
6,  and  the  minimum  porosity  should  be  10  per  cent  or  lower.  The  clay 
should  have  a  sufficiently  long  heat  range  at  the  cone  temperature  of  minimum 
porosity  so  that  there  will  not  be  any  danger  of  overburning  in  the  commer- 
cial kiln.  These  dense  burning  clays  should  not  warp  or  crack  in  the  drying 
or  burning  process.     The  other  clay  used  will  be  of  the  open  burning  type. 

STONEWARE  CLAYS 

These  are  sedimentary  clays  which  have  good  plasticity  and  strength, 
burn  to  a  cream  or  light  tan  color,  and  reach  a  low  porosity  between  cones 
5  and  9.  They  should  be  free  from  substances  which  will  give  rise  to  the 
formation  of  soluble  salts.  It  is  desirable  that  the  clays  be  free  from  con- 
cretions, pyrites,  coaly  forms  of  carbon,  and  other  substances  which  may 
interfere  with  the  use  of  the  clay,  although  washing  of  the  clay,  which  is 
frequently  resorted  to  preparatory  to  use,  will  remove  them.  A  comparison 
of  the  data  regarding  the  stoneware  clays  used  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States  indicates  that  the  physical  properties  are,  on  the  average, 
as  follows :  The  water  of  plasticity  is  from  18  to  37  per  cent,  though  the 
usual  amount  is  35  per  cent;  the  drying  shrinkage  varies  between  5  and  13 
per  cent,  and  the  average  is  about  8  per  cent ;  the  strength  of  the  clay  as 
measured  by  the  crossbreaking  test1  varies  between  125  and  400  pounds  with 
the  average  at  about  250  pounds  per  square  inch ;  the  tensile  strength  varies 
between  100  and  300  pounds  with  an  average  of  150  pounds;  the  minimum 
porosity  attained  during  burning  is  between  5  and  10  per  cent,  which  may 
be  reached  between  cones  5  and  10;  the  average  burning  shrinkage  is  prob- 
ably about  8  per  cent. 

SAGGAR  CLAYS 

Two  types  of  clays  are  used  in  mixtures  for  the  manufacture  of  these 
wares,  namely,  an  open  burning  clay  of  good  refractoriness,  and  a  clay  of 
lower  refractoriness  which  will  burn  dense  at  a  low  temperature.  It  is 
desirable  that  both  types  should  have  good  plasticity  and  good  strength, 
although  these  properties  may  be  the  characteristics  of  only  one  of  the  clays 
used.     It  is  important  that  the  clays  do  not  contain  pyrites,  concretionary 


II.  e.,  modulus  of  rupture. 


286  YEAR  BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

matter,  or  other  foreign  material  which  may  cause  damage  to  the  wares 
placed  in  the  saggars  for  burning.  The  shrinkages  of  the  clays  are  not 
important  since  the  mixtures  contain  a  very  considerable  amount  of  grog 
and,  moreover,  small  variations  in  size  are  of  no  moment.  Unless  the 
saggars  are  to  be  used  at  very  high  temperatures,  it  is  not  necessary  to  use 
high  grade  refractory  clays.  It  is  quite  essential,  however,  that  the  clays 
should  be  suitable  for  use  in  mixtures  which  are  subjected  to  heavy  loads 
at  high  temperatures.  Knowledge  of  the  fundamentals  of  good  saggar 
making  is  as  yet  in  a  rudimentary  stage,  and  there  is  a  great  divergence  in 
the  practice  of  potters  in  the  choice  of  materials  and  their  proportions. 

SANITARY   WARE    CLAYS 

The  clays  used  in  the  manufacture  of  such  wares  as  bath  tubs,  wash 
trays,  and  sinks,  are  similar  to  those  used  in  the  manufacture  of  terra  cotta. 

PAVING   BRICK    CLAYS 

The  requirements  to  be  met  by  these  clays  are  good  plasticity  so  that 
they  may  be  formed  as  brick  by  the  auger  machine ;  little  or  no  tendency 
to  laminate;  good  strength;  safe  drying  properties  so  that  they  will  not  warp 
or  crack  during  that  process ;  a  low  carbon  and  sulphur  content  so  that  they 
may  be  readily  and  safely  oxidized  during  the  burning  process ;  little  or  no 
concretionary  material ;  the  color  of  the  burned  ware  should  be  a  good  red 
in  order  to  meet  the  usual  requirements  of  the  trade,  although  paving  bricks 
are  made  also  of  clays  burning  to  a  light  color;  the  minimum  porosity  should 
be  approximately  5  per  cent  or  less  and  this  should  be  attained  with  a  suffi- 
ciently wide  heat  range  so  that  there  will  be  no  danger  of  overburning  in 
the  ordinary  commercial  kiln ;  the  product  must  develop  a  sufficient  degree 
of  toughness  to  meet  the  usual  tests  ;  the  linear  drying  shrinkage  may  vary 
considerably,  but  the  ordinary  maximum  is  8  per  cent  and  the  average  is  6 
per  cent;  the  water  of  plasticity  of  typical  paving  brick  clays  is  17  per  cent. 

FACE  BRICK   CLAYS 

Clays  of  a  great  variety  are  used  for  this  purpose  and  the  requirements 
which  must  be  met  may  be  stated  only  in  a  general  way.  For  the  purpose 
of  manufacturing  by  the  plastic  process,  which  is  that  most  generally  used, 
the  clay  must  be  of  a  sort  which  will  flow  readily  through  the  die  of  the 
brick  machine.  No  marked  development  of  lamination  should  occur.  The 
clay  should  have  a  fair  or  good  strength  in  the  dry  condition.  It  should 
dry  readily  and  safely  without  a  tendency  to  warp  or  crack.  The  usual 
shrinkage  is  from  6  to  8  per  cent,  although  it  varies  widely.  The  appearance 
of  a  scum,  whitewash,  or  efflorescence  of  any  kind  at  this  or  subsequent 
stages  in  the  manufacture  is  objectionable.  The  clay  should  be  practically 
free  from  minerals  of  a  harmful  kind,  size,  or  quantity,  as  for  example, 
calcium  carbonate  in  its  various  forms,  pyrites,  and  concretionary  iron.  The 
clays  should  burn  hard  and  strong  without  warping,  blistering,  pitting,  etc. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      CONSERVATION  287 

They  should  attain  a  low  per  cent  of  absorption  at  a  temperature  which  is 
commercially  practicable.  This  varies  widely  according  to  the  type  of  mate- 
rial and  may  be  said  not  to  exceed  cone  8  and  usually  lies  below  cone  1. 
The  clays  should  have  a  sufficiently  wide  heat  range  to  permit  the  necessary 
degree  of  vitrification  without  danger  of  overburning  and  the  variations  in 
color  throughout  the  burn  should  be  of  a  sort  both  as  to  shade  and  variety 
as  to  permit  satisfactory  grading. 

Conservation  of  Clays 

We  have  been  accustomed  to  regard  the  supply  of  our  better  grades 
of  clays  as  practically  inexhaustible.  Considering  the  great  area  of  the 
whole  country  and  the  large  portion  still  unexplored  economically,  this  may 
be  accepted  as  true.  However,  in  those  states  which  are  most  largely  given 
over  to  industrial  pursuits,  it  is  scarcely  wise  to  make  this  assumption. 
While  it  is  true  that  we  have  large  areas  with  great  tonnages  in  the  process 
of  utilization  and  other  areas  known  and  unknown  yet  to  be  exploited,  still 
we  should  not  evade  the  fact  that  in  some  important  districts  the  end  is  in 
sight.  It  is  wise,  therefore,  to  have  in  mind  the  importance  of  conserving 
the  supply  of  the  better  grades  of  clays.  This  may  be  done  by  obtaining 
a  complete  knowledge  of  the  extent  and  character  of  our  clay  resources ; 
by  a  more  precise  knowledge  of  the  requirements  of  the  raw  materials  for 
the  manufacture  of  the  various  wares;  by  less  wasteful  methods  of  mining; 
by  the  use  of  methods  of  purification  to  render  clays  serviceable  which 
would  otherwise  be  unavailable  for  use ;  by  the  adoption  of  the  practice  of 
blending  clays  from  certain  areas  or  districts  so  that  there  would  be  a  more 
complete  utilization  of  the  output  from  small  mines  of  the  region  or  of 
certain  strata  of  clays ;  by  the  avoidance  of  the  practice  of  using  superior 
material,  either  the  raw  material  or  the  finished  product,  where  an  inferior 
grade  would  suffice. 

As  an  instance  of  the  importance  of  a  more  adequate  knowledge  of  our 
clay  resources,  we  may  cite  the  diaspore  deposits  of  Missouri.  For  many 
years  flint  clay  deposits  in  certain  counties  of  that  state  have  been  operated. 
A  peculiar  rough  type  of  clay  found  in  those  pits  was  regarded  as  detri- 
mental or  worthless,  and  abandoned  pits  may  be  found  today  where  large 
bodies  of  it  were  left.  Within  the  past  three  years,  this  material  has  been 
found  to  be  of  exceptional  interest  and  value  because  of  the  extraordinarily 
high  content  of  alumina.1 

The  Physical  Properties  and  the  Methods  of  Testing  the  Clays 

The  methods  of  testing  employed  were,  with  few  exceptions,  those  rec- 
ommended tentatively  by  the  American  Ceramic  Society's  Committee  on 
Standards  in  its  report  of  1918. 

iBuehler,  H.  A.,  Biennial  Report  of  tlie  State  Geologist  of  Missouri,  p.   18,   1919. 


288 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


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ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      METHODS    OF    TESTING  289 

PRELIMINARY   PREPARATION 

The  quantity  of  each  sample  collected  by  the  field  geologist  and  sent 
to  the  laboratory  approximated  fifty  pounds  weight,  but  was  less  when  spe- 
cial circumstances  made  a  smaller  amount  necessary,  as  in  the  case  of 
samples  gathered  by  boring  with  an  auger. 

After  a  careful  inspection  of  the  dried  material,  in  which  observations 
were  made  as  to  its  general  character,  its  degree  of  homogeneity,  and  the 
presence  of  easily  distinguishable  minerals,  organic  matter,  and  other  impuri- 
ties, the  sample  was  crushed  by  passing  through  a  set  of  rolls  excluding,  of 
course,  any  pebbles  or  lumps  of  an  obviously  foreign  nature.  The  occur- 
rence of  pebbles  or  foreign  material  was  quite  unusual.  This  crushing  oper- 
ation was  limited  strictly  to  the  breaking  down  of  the  larger  lumps  of  clay 
and  no  grinding  was  done. 

The  powdered  clay  was  passed  through  a  twenty-mesh  sieve,  and  the 
fines  were  moistened  with  a  sufficient  quantity  of  water  to  permit  the  working 
of  the  mass  into  a  plastic  condition  of  the  right  consistency  to  be  molded 
into  the  test  pieces.  The  determination  of  the  correct  consistency  was 
dependent  upon  the  judgment  of  the  operator.  Sometimes  a  few  trials  were 
necessary  in  order  to  arrive  at  the  proper  condition.  Since  plastic  clays 
are  workable  with  a  fairly  wide  range  of  water  content,  it  will  be  noted 
in  the  reports  upon  the  tests  of  clays  that  in  some  instances  a  certain  amount 
of  variation  occurs  with  the  same  clay.  Thorough  kneading  or  wedging, 
as  it  is  called,  was  employed  in  order  to  insure  a  uniformity  in  the  mass. 

THE  TEST   PIECES 
FORMATION 

The  pieces  required  for  the  testing  were  formed  by  one  or  the  other 
of  two  methods.  The  method  ordinarily  used  was  to  place  the  plastic  mass  in 
the  barrel  of  a  piston  press  and  to  force  the  clay  to  flow  out  through  a  die 
having  an  opening  one  inch  square.  The  bar  of  clay  thus  formed  was  cut 
into  pieces  about  four  inches  long. 

This  apparatus  (see  Fig.  44)  is  the  same  one  as  described  and  used  in 
the  "Tests  on  Clay  Materials  Available  in  Illinois  Coal  Mines,"  published 
by  the  Illinois  State  Geological  Survey  as  Bulletin  18  of  the  Cooperative 
Mining  Investigations  series. 

This  method  furnished  also  a  means  for  estimating  the  relative  ease 
or  difficulty  with  which  a  clay  would  flow  through  a  die,  a  factor  which  is 
of  importance  in  some  lines  of  manufacture. 

The  alternative  method  was  to  form  a  roll  of  clay  of  the  approximate 
dimensions  of  a  small  brass  mold  and  to  tamp  the  roll  into  the  mold,  taking 
care  to  have  it  filled  completely.  The  piece  thus  formed  was  of  the  same 
size  as  that  formed  by  squeezing  through  the  die. 


290  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

DRYING 

The  test  pieces  were  dried  carefully  by  keeping  them  for  a  period  of 
several  hours  at  the  room  temperature,  then  in  a  drier  at  a  temperature 
of  100°  R,  and  finally  at  a  temperature  of  212°  F. 

RAW   CLAYS  I   THEIR   PROPERTIES  AND    METHODS   OF  TESTING 

SHRINKAGE 

Shrinkage  is  the  contraction  which  takes  place  in  a  clay  during  the 
drying  or  the  burning  of  the  same.  In  the  former  case,  it  is  due  to  the 
loss  of  the  water  which  has  been  introduced  to  render  it  plastic  and  which 
surrounds  and  separates  the  particles.  The  amount  of  the  shrinkage  varies 
widely  and  may  be  classified1  as  follows : 


Per  cent 

Low 

0   —3 

Medium  Low 

3.1—6 

Medium 

6.1—9 

Medium   High 

9.1—12 

High 

12.1  and  upwards 

Excessive  shrinkage  will  render  a  clay  unlit  for  use  for  many  purposes 
and  often  causes  warping  or  cracking. 

Linear. — Immediately  after  forming  each  piece,  it  was  marked  for 
identification  and  shrinkage  marks  were  made  upon  one  face  spaced  3*/& 
inches  apart.  After  the  completion  of  the  drying,  the  pieces  were  again 
measured  in  order  to  determine  the  amount  of  linear  shrinkage,  which  was 
calculated  as  follows : 

_  ,  _  .  .:   ,,  Length  of  plastic  piece— Length  of  dry  piece 

Percentage  of  Linear  Shrinkage  =    X  100 

Length  of  dry  piece 

In  many  cases  the  linear  shrinkage  is  also  expressed  in  terms  of  the 

plastic  length,  as  for  example : 

Length  of  plastic  piece— Length  of  dry  piece 

Percentage  of  Linear  Shrinkage  =    : X  100 

Length  of  plastic  piece 

Volume. — The  determination  of  the  volume  shrinkage  was  made  in  many 
cases.  It  was  done  by  means  of  a  volumeter  which  is  described  later  (see 
page  29).     The  results  were  calculated  as  follows: 

Percentage  of  Volume  Shrinkage  = 

Volume  of  plastic  piece  —  Volume  of  dry  piece 


Volume  of  dry  piece 


xioo 


The  method  used  is  more  refined  than  that  employed  for  linear  shrink- 
age and  consequently  the  results  are  more  accurate. 


1A  slightly  modified  form  of  the  classification  given  by:    Watts,  A.  S.,  Classification  of 
clays  on  a  ceramic  basis:    Jour.  Am.  Cer.  Soc,  Vol.  3,  p.  247,  1920. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      METHODS    OF    TESTING  291 

WATER   OF   PLASTICITY 

The  amount  of  water  required  for  addition  to  a  clay  to  render  it  readily 
workable  is  known  as  the  "Water  of  Plasticity."  It  varies  widely  in  different 
clays,  depending  upon  the  fineness  of  grain  and  relative  amount  and  char- 
acter of  the  colloidal  content.  It  varies  also  with  the  same  clay.  In  general, 
the  more  plastic  clays  have  the  larger  content  of  water  of  plasticity  and 
exhibit  the  widest  variations  in  amounts  for  the  individual  clays.  They  also 
show  the  greatest  strength  in  the  dried  state.  The  following  table1  shows 
the  water  of  plasticity  content  of  some  typical  clays  and  shales : 

Per  cent 

Galesburg  Shale  26.7       Good  working  properties 

English  Ball  Clay  M.  and  M.  No.  1 49.3       Very  plastic,  rather  sticky 

Tennessee  Ball  Clay  No.  3 52.5       Very  plastic,  rather  sticky 

English  China  Clay 44.1       Fairly  plastic 

Georgia  Kaolin  26.2       Very  plastic,  rather  sticky 

Florida  Kaolin    45.2       Good  plasticity,  rather  sticky 

North   Carolina   Kaolin 34.2       Slightly  plastic,  sticky 

The  calculation  of  the  water  of  plasticity  was  made  as  follows : 

Percentage  of  Water  of  Plasticity  = 

Weight  of  plastic  clay— Weight  of  clay  dried  at  212°   F. 
100  X  ~  Weight  of  clay  dried  at  212°  F. 

The  water  of  plasticity  consists2  of  the  "Shrinkage  Water"  which  is 
that  part  which  is  driven  off  during  the  drying  period  up  to  the  time  when 
shrinkage  ceases ;  and  the  "Pore  Water"  or  that  portion  which  still  remains 
when  shrinkage  ceases,  retained  in  the  pores  of  the  piece  until  the  completion 
of  the  drying  has  driven  it  all  out. 

Shrinkage  zvater. — The  shrinkage  water  was  determined  by  measuring 
the  volume  of  the  test  piece  before  and  after  shrinkage  ceased  and  reporting 
the  difference  in  terms  of  percentage  of  the  dry  weight ;  as,  for  example : 

_  r  o,    •   ,  „r  Plastic  volume  —  Dry  volume 

Percentage  of  Shrinkage  Water  = y/  100 

Dry   weight 

Pore  water. — Since  the  pore  water  is  the  portion  of  the  water  of  plas- 
ticity retained  in  the  pores  after  shrinkage  ceases,  it  is  therefore  calculated 
as  follows : 

Percentage  of  Pore  Water  =  Percentage  of  Water  of  Plasticity  —  Percentage  of 

Shrinkage  Water 

Clays  in  which  the  ratio  of  shrinkage  water  to  the  pore  water  is  high 
are  likely  to  have  excessive  or  sticky  plasticity  and  to  warp  or  crack  in  drying. 
This  ratio  undoubtedly  bears  an  important  relation  to  the  strength  of  the 
unburned  clay.  These  properties  are  dependent  also  upon  other  factors  such 
as  the  shape  and  the  relative  proportion  of  the  various  sizes  of  non-plastics 
in  the  mass  so  that  in  our  present  state  of  knowledge  a  correlation  cannot 

iKinnison,  C.  S.  A  study  of  the  Atterberg  plasticity  method  :  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Stand- 
ards Tech.  Paper  No.   46,  pp.   11-12,   1915. 

2No  account  is  taken  here  of  the  hygroscopic  water,  imbibed  or  absorbed  water. 


292  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

be  made.  However,  according  to  certain  investigations  by  A.  V.  Bleininger1 
the  best  clays  for  glass  pots  and  crucibles  have  a  pore  water-shrinkage  ratio 
of  1:1. 

FINENESS 

The  relative  proportions  of  the  non-plastic  material  of  various  sizes 
present  in  clays  varies  within  wide  limits  and  the  choice  of  a  clay  for  special 
purposes  sometimes  depends  upon  a  particular  amount  or  size.  For  example, 
the  use  of  siliceous  clays  in  the  mixture  for  glass  pots  has  been  found  of 
distinct  advantage. 

It  is  desirable,  therefore,  to  have  such  information  available  and  it 
would  be  of  advantage  to  have  more  information  about  the  mineral  char- 
acter and  the  physical  form  of  the  non-plastic  particles. 

Plasticity,  drying  conduct,  drying  shrinkage,  strength  and  burning  prop- 
erties are  all  largely  influenced  by  the  non-plastics.  In  some  cases  the 
removal  of  non-plastics  above  a  certain  size  is  necessary  as  in  the  case  of 
the  manufacture  of  stoneware. 

One  hundred  grams  of  the  dried  sample  were  shaken  with  800  cc.  of 
water  in  a  mechanical  shaker  until  the  mass  was  thoroughly  disintegrated. 
The  mixture  was  then  poured  on  to  a  set  of  sieves  of  the  meshes  recorded 
in  the  tests.  The  soft  lumps  of  the  residues  were  crushed  by  rubbing  with 
the  fingers  and  washed  thoroughly,  dried  and  weighed.  The  results  are 
reported  in  the  terms  of  the  total  weight  of  the  dry  clay  used. 

In  the  reports  on  the  results  of  tests  which  follow,  the  classification 
given  herewith  is  used : 

Amount  of  residue 
Per  cent 

0—3.5   Slight 

3.6 — 5.5    Low 

5.6—10.5    Moderate 

10.6 — 25.5    Considerable 

More  than  25.5    High 

SLAKING 

The  slaking  test  has  been  recommended  as  preliminary  test  of  especial 
service  in  distinguishing  between  clays  of  high  and  low  strength.  Many 
clays  which  require  thirty  minutes  or  more  to  slake  have  high  tensile  and 
transverse  breaking  strength  in  the  unburned  condition.  Clays  which  slake 
quickly  have  low  or  medium  strength.  This  test  is  useful  for  a  rough 
approximation  only  which  should  be  confirmed  by  the  usual  strength  tests. 

An  intimate  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  dry  clay  and  potter's  flint  was 
moistened  with  water  and  after  working  to  a  plastic  condition  was  shaped 
as  a  bar  measuring  4  in.  by  1   in.  by   1   in.     This  bar  was  cut  into  cubes 

iBleininger,  A.  V.,  Properties  of  American  bond  clays,  etc. :  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Standard? 
Tech.  Paper  No.  144,  p.  51,  1920. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      METHODS    OF    TESTING  293 

approximately  one  inch  on  each  side.  After  carefully  drying  these,  first 
at  room  temperature,  then  at  160°-170°  F.,  and  finally  at  212°  F.,  they  were 
cooled,  placed  on  wire  mesh  trays  (four  meshes  to  the  inch),  and  then 
submerged  in  water  at  room  temperature.  The  cubes  slaked  more  or  less 
slowly  and  the  time  required  for  this  to  be  completed  was  noted.  Care  was 
taken  to  avoid  agitation  of  the  water  during  the  slaking  process. 

TRANSVERSE    STRENGTH 

The  strength  of  dried  unburned  clay  is  determined  either  in  terms  of 
tensile  strength  or  the  cross-breaking  strength.  The  latter  is  more  commonly 
used  by  American  ceramists  at  present  because  of  the  simplicity  of  the 
apparatus  and  the  greater  uniformity  of  results  obtained.  A  modulus  of 
rupture  of  less  than  200  pounds  per  square  inch  may  be  regarded  as  low ; 
between  200  and  400  pounds  per  square  inch  as  good ;  and  above  400  pounds 
as  high.  This  test  is  of  use  in  the  valuation  of  all  clays  but  especially  those 
which  are  be  used  alone  or  with  other  clays,  and  without  the  addition  of 
non-plastics  as  such.  The  washing  of  the  clay  may  or  may  not  impair  its 
strength. 

Test  bars  6  in.  by  1  in.  by  1  in.  were  formed  according  to  the  methods 
previously  described,  dried  first  at  room  temperature,  then  at  140°  to  150°  F. 
for  24  hours,  and  finally  at  212°  to  220°  F.  for  24  hours.  After  removal 
from  the  oven,  and  cooling  to  room  temperature,  the  pieces  were  then  sup- 
ported upon  knife  edges  placed  five  inches  apart.  At  a  point  midway 
between  the  supports  rested  the  knife  edge  of  a  yoke  from  which  hung  a 
pail.  A  stream  of  sand  was  fed  into  this  pail  until  the  weight  was  sufficient 
to  break  the  bar. 

The  result  of  the  test  was  recorded  as  the  modulus  of  rupture  which 

was  calculated  as  follows : 

.,    ,   ,  .  _  3  X  Weight  in  pounds  X  Distance  between   supports 

Modulus  of  Rupture  = 

2  X  Breadth  X  Depths 

Twenty  pieces  were  tested  in  all  cases  where  sufficient  material  was  at 
hand.  The  final  result  reported  was  the  average  of  all  the  values  which  did 
not  vary  more  than  25  per  cent  of  the  maximum. 

The  "modulus  of  rupture"  classification  used  in  describing  the  results  of 
tests  of  transverse  strength  is  the  same  as  that  given  below  for  bonding 
strength. 

BONDING  STRENGTH 

It  is  the  practice  in  the  manufacture  of  many  kinds  of  wares  to  use 
more  or  less  non-plastic  material  containing  particles  of  varying  size  and 
shape,  as,  for  example,  in  furnace  blocks,  fire  brick,  crucibles,  glass  pots, 
abrasive  wheels,  architectural  terra  cotta,  and  zinc  retorts.  For  such  uses, 
it  is  highly  important  that  the  clays  used  should  permit  such  admixtures 


294  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

wilh  a  retention  of  maximum  strength.  Ordinarily  the  addition  of  consid- 
erable amounts  of  non-plastics  results  in  a  decrease  in  the  cross-breaking 
strength  as  compared  with  that  of  the  pure  clay.  In  some  instances  there 
is  little  change  and  sometimes  an  increase.  The  following  classification  pro- 
posed by  Professor  A.  S.  Watts,1  slightly  modified,  has  been  employed : 

Modulus  of  Rupture 

Lbs.  per  sq.  in. 
Low  0—100 

Medium  Low       101—200 
Medium  201—400 

Medium  High      401—800 
High  801  and  above 

Equal  parts  of  clay  and  standard  sand2  were  brought  to  a  plastic  condi- 
tion by  the  addition  of  water  and  thorough  wedging.  Test  pieces  were  formed 
from  this  mixture.  The  method  of  preparation,  the  size,  the  conditions  of 
drying  and  mode  of  breaking  were  similar  to  those  described  under  "Trans- 
verse Strength." 

The  results  are  reported  in  terms  of  the  modulus  of  rupture,  which  is 
calculated  in  the  manner  already  described. 

BURNED  CLAYS  I  THEIR   PROPERTIES  AND    METHODS  OF  TESTING 
PYROMETRIC    METHODS    USED 

The  test  pieces  prepared  for  the  determination  of  the  drying  shrinkage 
were  burned  in  a  coal-fired  laboratory  test  kiln  of  the  down  draft  type, 
having  a  chamber  capacity  of  approximately  27  cubic  feet.  The  normal 
rate  of  firing  was : 

From  room  temperature  to  572°  F 9  hours 

From    572°  F.  to  1112°  F 6  hours 

From  1112°  F.  to  1382°  F 12  hours 

From  1382°  F.  to  1850°  F 7  hours 

From  1850°  F.  to  finish 45°— 54°  F.  per  hour 

Ordinarily,  the  trial  pieces  were  placed  in  closed  saggars  to  protect 
them  from  the  flames  and  dust  carried  by  the  draught  through  the  kiln. 

A  separate  burn  was  made  for  each  of  the  several  pyrometric  cones 
indicated  in  the  reports  on  the  tests,  excepting  as  it  became  desirable  in 
some  cases  to  set  the  kiln  so  that  test  pieces  could  be  drawn  from  time  to 
time  as  the  desired  cone-temperature  was  reached. 

!Watts,  A.  S.,  Classification  of  clays  on  a  ceramic  basis :  Jour.  Am.  Cer.  Soc.  Vol. 
3,   p.   247,    1920. 

2Standard  sand  is  prepared  especially  for  use  in  the  testing  of  cement.  It  is  sized  to 
pass  a  twenty-mesh  sieve  (0.0328-inch  hole,  0.0172-inch  wire)  and  is  retained  on  a  twenty- 
eight  mesh   (0.0232-inch  hole,  0.0125-inch  wire). 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      METHODS    OF    TESTING  295 

The  pyrometric  cones  used  were  those  made  by  Professor  Edward 
Orton,  Jr.,  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  With  respect  to  the  temperature  equivalents 
of  these  cones,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  pyrometric  cone  is  a 
measure  of  the  effect  of  the  time-temperature  relation  as  has  been  repeatedly 
pointed  out  but  often  disregarded.  Therefore,  the  temperature  at  which  a 
cone  "goes  down"  is  dependent  upon  the  rate  of  firing.  This  has  been 
carefully  investigated  by  the  Bureau  of  Standards  and  is  discussed  in  a 
paper  on  "The  Function  of  Time  in  the  Vitrification  of  Clays,"  published 
as  Technologic  Paper  No.  17.  In  the  following  table,  a  comparison  is  made 
of  the  cone-temperature  scale:  Scale  (a)  is  as  usually  given,  and  scale  (b) 
is  as  reported  in  the  paper  referred  to  when  the  rate  of  heating  was  at  49.5° 
F.  per  hour,  which  is  nearly  that  used  in  these  burns. 

COMPARISON   OF   TWO   CONE-TEMPERATURE    SCALES 


(a) 

(b) 

lone 

Usual  Scale 

Rate  = 

■.27y2°c. 

per 

hour 

Deg.  F. 

Deg.  C. 

Deg.  F. 

010 

1742 

885 

1625 

09 

1778 

930 

1706 

08 

1814 

970 

1778 

07 

1850 

975 

1787 

06 

1886 

1000 

1832 

05 

1922 

1035 

1895 

04 

1958 

1055 

1931 

03 

1994 

1065 

1949 

02 

2030 

1070 

1958 

01 

2066 

1080 

1976 

1 

2102 

1085 

1985 

2 

2138 

1090 

1994 

3 

2174 

1110 

2030 

4 

2210 

1125 

2057 

5 

2246 

1135 

2075 

6 

2282 

1140 

2084 

7 

2318 

1155 

2111 

8 

2354 

1170 

2138 

9 

2359 

1190 

2174 

A  thermo-electric  pyrometer  was  used  in  each  burn  in  order  to  determine 
the  rate  of  increase  of  temperature.  It  was  thought  impracticable  to  rely 
solely  upon  the  pyrometer  in  finishing  the  burns  because  of  the  impossibility 
of  grouping  the  test  pieces  within  or  without  the  saggars  close  enough  to 
the  thermocouple  to  insure  certainty  regarding  the  uniformity  of  the  tem- 
perature distribution,  whereas  the  cones  could  be  scattered  throughout  the 
kiln  where  needed. 

Two  pieces  were  burned  at  each  temperature  indicated  in  practically 
every  case,  and  an  average  taken  of  the  results  obtained. 


296 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917   AND   191! 


A  6-inch  wrought  iron  pipe 

B  Cap 

C  Machined  flange 

D  Glass  desicator  cover 

E  ^-inch  pipe 

F  Outlet  pipe  with  cap 

G  Rubber   pressure    tubing 

H  Glass  T 

J  Mercury  vacuum  gauge 

K  Level  of  water 

L  Briquets 

M  Pipe  to  vacuum  pump 


Fig.  45.     Apparatus  for  saturating  briquets  in  vacuo. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      METHODS    OF    TESTING  297 

BURNING  SHRINKAGE 

The  shrinkage  resulting  from  burning  is  the  contraction  due  to  the  loss 
of  water  and  other  volatile  matter,  a  certain  amount  of  condensation  of 
the  components,  and  the  softening  of  the  mass  with  the  consequent  closing 
up  of  the  voids  by  the  more  fluid  portions.  A  high  shrinkage  may  lead  to 
cracking  or  warping  of  the  piece  and  is  avoided  therefore  in  the  manufacture 
of  all  ware  of  complicated  form  or  large  size.  The  following  classification 
proposed  by  Professor  A.  S.  Watts,  slightly  modified,  is  presented  for  com- 
parison : 

Total  Shrinkage  at  Cone  10 
Per  cent 
Low  0—4 

Medium  Low     4.1 —  8 
Medium  8.1—12 

Medium  High  12.1—16 
High  16  and  above 

In  the  "Results  of  tests"  included  in  this  report,  the  term  "Burning 
shrinkage"  means  linear  burning  shrinkage  in  every  case. 


Porosity  is  the  ratio  between  the  volume  of  the  pores  and  the  volume 
of  the  whole  piece.  The  volume  of  the  pores  was  determined  by  saturating 
the  piece  with  water  in  vacuo  (see  Fig.  45)  and  noting  the  weight  of  the 
water  absorbed.  The  volume  of  the  piece  thus  saturated  was  obtained  by 
measuring  the  amount  of  displacement  caused  by  its  introduction  into  a  modi- 
fied form  of  the  Seger  volumeter.  This  apparatus  consists  of  a  large-size 
glass  bottle  with  a  wide  neck  covered  by  a  glass  cap  ground  to  fit  snugly. 
To  the  side  of  this  bottle  is  connected  a  burrette  or  graduated  glass  tube, 
which  permits  a  reading  of  any  change  of  volume  of  the  contents  of  the 
large  bottle.    The  per  cent  porosity  is  calculated  as  follows : 

Saturated  weight  —  dry  weight  =  weight  of  water  absorbed 

Weight  of  water  absorbed  gives  volume  of  water  absorbed 

Volume  of  water  absorbed  =volume  of  pores 

Volume  of  pores 

— — : : ,    X  100  =  Percentage  of  Porosity 

Volume  of  test  piece   (including  pores) 

COLOR 

The  color  changes  at  the  various  cones  were  noted. 

FUSION,   OR   DEFORMATION    TESTS 

The  fusion  or  deformation  tests  were  made  in  a  Fletcher  furnace  for 
the  lower  temperatures  and  in  a  Deville  furnace  for  the  more  refractory 
materials.  The  latter  is  operated  by  placing  the  test  pieces  in  a  crucible, 
surrounding  them  with  coke,  and  forcing  the  combustion  with  a  low  pres- 


298  .  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

sure  air  blast.  The  test  pieces  were  molded  into  the  form  of  four-sided 
pyramids  measuring  0.23  inches  along  each  edge  of  the  base  and  1.2  inches 
high.  Standard  pyrometric  cones  made  by  Professor  Edward  Orton,  Jr., 
were  placed  in  the  furnace  with  the  test  pieces  to  serve  as  indicators  of 
the  cone  temperatures  reached. 

In  the  reports  of  the  results  of  tests,  clays  which  deform  below  cone  27 
are  termed  non-refractory,  those  which  deform  between  cones  27  and  31  in- 
clusive, refractory,  and  those  which  deform  at  cone  33  and  above,  highly 
refractory. 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  ILLINOIS   CLAYS 

By  C.  R.   Schroyer 

Refractory  clay  is  restricted  in  Illinois  to  the  basal  part  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian  ("Upper  Coal  Measures")  and  to  the  younger  embayment  deposits 
of  Cretaceous-Tertiary  age.  A  few  local  developments  are  associated  with 
other  horizons,  usually  as  residuals  above  limestones,  but  such  occurrences 
are  rare  and  not  of  great  importance.  The  clays  will  be  discussed  in  order, 
as:     (1)  Clays  of  the  embayment  area,  (2)  Clays  of  Pennsylvanian  age. 

Geographically  the  refractory  clays  of  Illinois  are  to  be  found  (1)  in  the 
extreme  southern  counties;  (2)  in  a  narrow  zone  extending  from  East  St. 
Louis  to  Rock  Island;  and  (3)  locally  along  Illinois  River  in  LaSalle  and 
Grundy  counties.  Fig.  43  indicates  the  general  distribution  of  refractory 
clays. 

The  southern  clays  are  part  of  the  younger  embayment  deposits  and 
are  found  in  Pope,  Massac,  Pulaski,  Alexander,  Union,  and  Johnson  coun- 
ties. The  "pocket"  deposits  near  Mountain  Glen,  Union  County,  are  the 
most  important  and  have  furnished  the  highest  grade  clay.  Others  of  a 
similar  nature  are  found  near  Grand  Chain,  Pulaski  County.  In  the  counties 
adjoining  Ohio  River,  bedded  clay  is  widely  distributed  but  is  not  always 
of  a  quality  desirable  for  commercial  purposes.  Figure  46  shows  the  em- 
bayment deposits. 

The  zone  extending  from  East  St.  Louis  to  Rock  Island  (see  Fig.  43) 
includes  parts  of  St.  Clair,  Madison,  Calhoun,  Greene,  Pike,  Scott,  Adams, 
Brown,  Schuyler,  McDonough,  Fulton,  Warren,  Mercer,  Rock  Island,  and 
Henry  counties.  While  clay  is  quite  generally  present  at  the  Cheltenham 
horizon  throughout  this  entire  belt,  it  is  only  locally  of  commercial  value, 
as  at  Alton,  Madison  County,  Alsey,  Scott  County,  Colchester  and  Macomb, 
McDonough  County,  and  Rock  Island,  Rock  Island  County. 

In  La  Salle  and  Grundy  counties  at  the  base  of  the  Pennsylvanian 
there  is  also  a  clay  of  refractory  value.  Pits  are  worked  near  Utica  and 
Ottawa,  and  mines  near  Oglesby  and  Marseilles.  In  the  vicinity  of  Goose 
Lake,  Grundy  County,  there  is  a  partially  developed  deposit  which  contains 
lenses  of  a  semi-flint  type  of  clay. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      THE    EMBAYMENT    CLAYS  299 

A  report  by  Stuart  St.  Clair  gives  in  some  detail  a  discussion  of  the 
Union  County  clays.1  E.  F.  Lines  has  studied  the  stratigraphy  of  the  Chelt- 
enham clay  of  Illinois.2  As  those  publications  are  still  available,  only  such 
of  the  matter  of  those  reports  will  be  repeated  as  is  necessary  for  clearness. 

In  the  introduction  a  general  discussion  has  been  made  of  the  classifi- 
cation of  clays,  their  properties  and  uses,  and  methods  of  testing.  For  a 
discussion  of  the  character  and  origin  of  clays,  the  reader  is  referred  to 
Bulletin  93  of  the  Survey. 

CLAYS  OF  THE  EMBAYMENT  AREA 

Long  after  the  Pennsylvanian  ("Coal  Measures")  shales,  limestones, 
sandstones,  and  coals  had  been  deposited,  and  after  the  surface  of  these 
formations  had  been  weathered  and  eroded,  the  level  of  the  sea  relative  to 
the  land  changed  so  that  a  wide  open  bay  extended  from  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
northward  into  southern  Illinois.  Debris  carried  into  this  basin  from  the 
bordering  land  formed  interstratified  beds  of  sand,  silt  and  clay,  which  make 
up  the  embayment  deposits  (see  fig.  46)  and  include  the  refractory  clays  of 
southern  Illinois. 

Paleozoic  Floor  and  Border 

Beds  of  Paleozoic  age  border  the  embayment  deposits  on  the  outer  rim 
and  presumably  form  the  floor  of  the  entire  basin.  Their  decayed  products 
have  been  the  source  of  the  younger  sediments.  In  Illinois  these  Paleozoic 
rocks  are  of  Mississippian  and  Devonian  age.  The  Mississippian  beds 
forming  most  of  the  eastern  and  northern  border  are  cherty  limestone  and 
shale  with  minor  horizons  of  sandstone.  The  high  bluff  of  a  former  channel 
of  Ohio  River  roughly  parallels  embayment  deposits  on  the  north  and  rises 
at  New  Columbia  to  a  height  of  150  feet  above  them.  Erosion  has  exposed 
Mississippian  beds  in  southwestern  Pope,  central  Massac,  and  Pulaski  coun- 
ties south  of  this  channel,  either  as  highland  inliers  or  as  bordering  fringes 
at  the  north  of  the  embayment  deposits. 

In  Alexander  and  Union  counties  older  beds  of  Devonian  age  border 
the  embayment  area  and  form  the  highlands  of  southwestern  Illinois.  These 
cherts  and  decayed  siliceous  rocks  overlie  Alexandrian  and  Ordovician  lime- 
stones which  outcrop  in  the  bluffs  of  the  Mississippi  River  flood-plain. 

Correlation  and  Division  of  the  Embayment  Deposits 

From  certain  features  common  to  the  embayment  deposits  and  other  beds 
elsewhere,  and  from  the  continuity  of  connection  at  the  south  as  well  as 
from  an  occasional  fossil,  these  beds  are  known  to  be  of  Cretaceous  and 

!St.  Clair.  Stuart,  Clay  deposits  near  Mountain  Glen,  Union  County,  Illinois :  111. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  36,  pp.  71-83,  1920. 

2Lines.  Edwin  F.,  Pennsylvanian  fireclays  of  Illinois :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
30,   pp.    61-73,    1917. 

^Rolfe.  C  W.,  Geology  of  clays  (part  of  paving  brick  and  paving-  brick  clays  of 
Illinois)  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  9,  pp.  1-46,  1908. 


300 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   i918 


GULF         OF         MEXICO 


Fig.  46.     Map   showing  the  outcrop  of   the   embayment  deposits  in   Illinois   with   their   rela- 
tionships to   similar  deposits  farther   south.     The  heavy   line  labelled  "Paleozoic     which 
swings   north   from   Arkansas   into    Illinois   and    thence   south    into   Alabama,   is    the 
boundary  of  the  deposits  laid  down  in  the  embayment  which  extended  northward 
from  the  Gulf  in  Cretaceous  and  Tertiary  times.     Only  the  outcrop  of  the 
Ripley  formation  is  shown.     South  of  the  Ripley  in  Illinois  Eocene  and 
younger  formations  are  uppermost,  and  remnants  of  these  younger 
formations  are   found   even    in   and    perhaps   beyond   the   area 
mnnnprl   ^  «  "Rinl^v       i  A  ft.p.r  Rtenhenson.) 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      THE    EMBAYMENT    CLAYS  301 

Tertiary  age.  In  the  states  farther  south,  where  there  are  definite  breaks 
between  formations,  it  has  been  possible  to  draw  lines  that  definitly  sub- 
divide these  deposits,  as  indicated  in  the  accompanying  table.  In  Illinois, 
however,  with  only  the  outer  margins  present  it  is  difficult  and  in  some  cases 
probably  impossible  to  separate  them  into  distinct  horizons. 

Each  formation  listed  in  Table  44  represents  a  transgression  of  the  sea 
and  each  break  represents  a  period  of  erosion.  How  far  north  these  beds 
extended  or  how  thick  they  were  originally  can  not  be  determined  from  their 
present  distribution.  Small  outliers  are  found  far  beyond  the  areas  of  con- 
nected strata.  For  example,  at  New  Columbia,  Massac  County,  and  south 
along  the  bluff  such  remnants  are  found  both  as  terraces  and  as  thin  beds 
over  the  Paleozoic  uplands,  150  feet  or  more  above  the  present  valley  level, 
as  indicated  by  the  fact  that  a  well  on  the  bluff  southeast  of  New  Columbia 
18  feet  deep  ended  in  red  sand  by  a  section  of  the  road  from  the  levee  to 
the  top  of  the  bluff  at  this  place : 

Section  of  bluff  at  New  Columbia 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

9.     Loess    10 

8.     Gravel 6 

7.     Sandstone,  platy,  red  and  gray 6  6 

6.     Sandy  beds,  light  in  color 10  8 

5.  Sandstone,  shaly ;  weathers  to  3-inch  beds 6 

4.  Clay  shales,  sandy,  white  and  buff  interbedded 7  6 

3.  Clay,  sandy,  white  with  iron-colored  streaks 3 

2.  Partly  covered 5 

1.  Sandstone    (Mississippian)    100  (Bar.) 

A  section  measured  near  Rosebud  gives  similar  indications : 

Section  2  miles  south  of  Rosebud,  Pope  County, 
in  the  SE.  yA  sec.  33,  T.  14  S.,  R.  6  E. 

Thickness 
Feet 

6.  Gravel  2  =*= 

5.  Clay,  light  colored,  sandy,  and  thin  beds  cemented  by  iron 16 

4.  Shales,  buff  and  gray,  sandy;  thin  compact  irony  beds  near  the  top.     6Y2 

3.  Sandy  beds,  partly  covered,  variegated,  micaceous 22 

2.  Covered 40   (Bar.) 

1.     Limestone  (Mississippian) 25 

This  bluff  rises  150  feet  above  the  level  of  the  present  alluvial  deposits 
and  the  capping  suggests  that  it  has  been  completely  buried  by  a  filling  of 
sand  and  clay. 

Near  Vienna,  Johnson  County,  small  terrace  remnants  of  bluish  white 
stratified  clay  shale  interbedded  with  hard  red,  sandy  beds  also  suggests 
the  former  presence  of  more  extensive  deposits.     Such  small  remnants  are 


302  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Table  44.     Subdivisions  of  the  embaymcnt  deposits,  recognized  by  various  authors 


Description  of  Horizon 


Sands  with  clay  lenses  and  green- 
sand.    Characteristic  life  remains 


Highly  fossiliferous  greensands 
not  recognized  outside  of  the 
Alabama  area 


Calcareous,        argillaceous,         and 
glauconitic  fossiliferous  sands 


Siliceous  claystone,  calcareous  and 
fossiliferous  toward  the  east 


Laminated,  sandy  clays  and  cross- 
bedded,  calcareous  sands  carry- 
ing fossils  and  some  greensand 


Sandy  clays  and  thick  lenses  of  cal- 
careous glauconitic  sands.  A 
bed  of  lignite  at  the  base 


Gray  and  yellowish  cross-bedded 
sands  and  sandy  clays,  massive 
below  and  laminated  above 


Sandy  glauconitic  beds  alternating 
with  grayish,  calcareous  clays. 
Lignite  bed  at  base 


Lignitic  ferruginous  «andy  clays 
and  beds  ot  1  gnite  or  coarse, 
micaceous  hichly  colored  sands 
with  micaceous  clays.  Green- 
sand 


Sands  usually  light  in  color,  but 
with  considerable  variation;  pink, 
light  yellowish,  brown,  and  local- 
ly also  leaden  or  slate  colored 
clay,  10  to  20  or  more  feet  thick. 
Iron  concretions  characteristic. 
Calcareous  and  glauconitic  beds 


Clay  of  a  light  leaden  gray  or  green- 
ish color  when  dry;  somewhat 
darker  when  wet.  Greensand 
present  in  some  layers.  Calcar- 
eous shells  at  the  south 

Sands  which  locally  contain  calcium 
carbonate  and  greensand 


S;u.''s  and   clays  of  shallow  water 
origin 


Approx- 
imate 
Thickness 


Feet 
200= 


30  to  40 


100  to  150 


200: 


200 


250  to  300 


450 


1000± 


From 

Professional  Papers  a 

81,  90J,  95F, 

120C,  and  120H 


Formations 


Jackson 
(Erosion  interval)- 


Gosport 


Lisbon 


Claiborne 
450± 


Tallahatta       j 
(Erosion  interval) 


Hatchetigbee 


Bashi 


Wilcox 
850± 


Tuscahoma 


Nanafalia 


(Erosion  interval)- 

Naheola  ] 


Sucarnochee 


Midway 


Clayton 

(Distinct    erosion    interval 
and  faunal  change) 


(Thought  to  be  of  the  same 
age  as  the  Selma  farther 
south) 


(Distinct  break)- 

Paleozoic  formations 


From 
Water- 
Supply 
Paper lG4b 


Formations 


Lagrange 


Porters 
Creek 


Ripley 
(McNairy 
sand    mem- 
ber at  the 
north) 


Selma 


Eutaw 


Tuscaloosa 


Relations 
In  Illinois 


Not  repre- 
sented in  Illi- 
nois 


Represented 
in  Illinois. 
The  high 
grade  clays  of 
Mountain 
Glen,  Grand 
Chain  and 
possibly 
Raum,  ques- 
tionably re- 
ferred to  this 
horizon.  Con- 
tinuous de- 
posits cover  a 
triangular 
area  in  the 
extreme  sou- 
thern part  of 
State 


Probably  pres- 
sent,  but  no 
distinctive 
marks  of 
identification 


Extends  as  a 
curved  belt  5 
to  15  miles 
wide  about 
the  outer 
margin  of  the 
embay  ment 
deposits. 
Known  from 
deep  excava- 
tion at  Cairo 


Absent 


a-Stephenson,  L.  W.,  Cretaceous  deposits  of  the  eastern  Gulf  region:  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Prof.  Pape 
81,  1914. 

Stephenson,  L.  W.,  The  Cretaceous-Eocene  contact  in  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coastal  plain:  U.  S.  Geol. 
Survey    Prof.    Paper   90.1,    1915. 

Berry,  E.  W.,  Erosion  intervals  in  the  Eocene  of  the  Mississippi  embayment:  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Prof. 
Paper  95F,   1915. 

Cooke,  C.  W.,  and  Shearer,  H.  K.,  Deposits  of  Claiborne  and  Jackson  age  in  Georgia:  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey 
Prof.   Paper  12(JC,   1918. 

Stephcnsonl  L.  W.,  A  contribution  to  the  geology  of  northeastern"  Texas  and  southern  Oklahoma:  U.  S. 
Geol.  Purvey  Prof.  Paper  12011,  1918. 

b-Glenn,  L.  C,  Underground  wates  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  west  of  Tennessee  River  and  of  anr 
adjacentarea  in  Illinois:  L'.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Water-supply  and  Irrigation  Paper  No.  164,  19Jt>. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      THE    EMBAYMENT    CLAYS  303 

known  in  the  Devonian  area  of  Alexander  and  Union  counties  as  far  north 
as  Mountain  Glen,  and  the  deposits  of  refractory  clay  at  that  place  are  prob- 
ably outliers.  Still  farther  north  clay  has  been  dug  at  an  elevation  of  about 
625  feet  above  sea  level,  northwest  of  Alto  Pass  near  the  north  line  of  Union 
County.  Outliers  of  sand  and  thin-bedded  clays  are  found  west  of  Pomona 
in  Jackson  County  at  an  elevation  of  about  650  feet  above  sea  level.  This 
clay  is  so  white  that  it  has  been  used  by  the  farmers  for  white  wash  and  paint. 


CRETACEOUS  SYSTEM 
UPPER    CRETACEOUS    SERIES 
RIPLEY   FORMATION 

The  four  lower  embayment  formations  listed  in  the  table  are  of  Cre- 
taceous age  but  only  the  highest  of  these,  the  Ripley  formation,  extends  into 
Illinois.  The  northern  extension  of  this  formation  is  composed  largely  of 
loose  sands  and  sandstone,  and  is  known  as  the  McNairy  sand  member.  The 
McNairy  extends  in  a  curved  belt  across  southwestern  Pope,  southern  Mas- 
sac, and  central  Pulaski  counties,  and  in  a  constricted  narrow  belt  across 
Alexander  County,  terminating  not  far  from  Fayville  at  Mississippi  River. 
The  width  of  this  belt  varies  from  10  miles  north  of  Metropolis  to  less  than 
half  that  width  in  central  Alexander  County.  Younger  beds  of  Tertiary 
and  Quaternary  age  overlie  most  of  this  area. 

Lithologic  Character. — In  Tennessee  the  Ripley  formation  is  composed 
mostly  of  stratified,  variegated  sands,  that  are  commonly  rich  in  iron  and 
contain  "pipes"  and  irony  masses.  "The  sands  are  usually  fine  gravel  and 
between  them  are  found  beds  of  gray  lignite  or  yellow  sandy  micaceous 
clay."1  Drying  cracks  now  filled  with  limonite  indicate  periods  of  exposure 
early  in  the  history  of  the  deposit. 

In  Kentucky  the  Ripley  is  a  "black  clay  in  very  thin  laminae,  separated 
by  fine  white  and  highly  micaceous  sand ;  beds  of  sharp  angular  white  and 
yellow  micaceous  sand  100  feet  thick."2 

In  Illinois  the  fewness  of  Ripley  exposures  makes  study  of  this  horizon 
difficult.  In  general,  however,  the  formation  is  made  up  of  variegated 
sands  interstratified  with  beds  of  gray,  leaden,  or  slate-colored  clay,  10  to 
20  feet  or  more  thick.  The  sands  are  commonly  rich  in  iron,  and  ironstone 
layers  and  concretionary  masses  are  abundant.  The  clays  of  Massac  County 
are  of  this  age. 

Sections  of  the  McNairy  sands  of  the  Ripley  formation  in  Illinois 
follow : 


iNelson,  W.  A.,  Clay  deposits  of  West  Tennessee :    Geol.   Survey   of  Tennessee  Bull. 
5,  p.   ll,   1911. 

2Gardner,  James  H.,   Kentucky  Geol.   Survey  Bull.  6,  p.  S3,   1905. 


304  YEAR   ROOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Log  of  the  Eichcnseer  well,  one  mile  below  Yates  Landing  in  the 

SW.  %  sec.  2,  T.  15  S.,  R.  2  E. 

Thickness  Depth 

Feet  Feet 
Description   of   strata 

Loam  and  loess   18  18 

Gravel,    coarse    3  21 

Sand,  white  30  51 

"Potters  clay,"  white  6^  57 

Sand,  white,  with  small  lumps  of  clay 70  127 

Section  of  east  bank  of  drainage  ditch  300  yards  north  of  Ohio  River 

Thickness 
Ft.  In. 

5.     Soil    1  3 

4.    Loess    5  to  15    . 

3.  Gravel  and   sand,   stained  brown  or   red  by  iron ;   compact  at 

base 1  3 

2.  Clay,  bluish,  micaceous,  sandy,  with  thin  lenses  of  sand 2  6 

1.  Sand  and  clay  interbedded  and  slumped  together 8  10 

Log  of  the  Stoncr  zvell  in  sec.  28,  T.  15  S.,  R.  6  E. 

Thickness  Depth 

Feet  Feet 
Description  of  strata 

Clay  and  "loam,"  yellow  10  10 

Sand,  fine 2}/2  12^ 

"Soapstone,"  dark  compact  clay,  with  lignite 9  21^4 

Sand  and  clay,  red  in  color ;  some  harder  irony  layers,  others  white 

and  buff  28  49^4 

Rock,  hard ;  bottom  of  well 

Section  half  a  mile  zvest  of  Round  Knob 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

4.  Gravel ;  unmeasured 

3.  Clay,  red   4 

2.  Clay,  white  and  pink 6  6 

1.     Sand,  red  and  white,  case  hardened  ferruginous  layers 18 

TERTIARY   SYSTEM 

EOCENE    SERIES 

MIDWAY    FORMATION 

The  Midway  formation  includes  the  oldest  beds  of  Tertiary  age,  and 
south  of  Illinois  it  rests  with  marked  unconformity  on  the  underlying  Cre- 
taceous. 

Only  in  the  vicinity  of  Caledonia  Landing  east  of  Olmsted  have  exposed 
deposits  in  Illinois  been  correlated  with  the  Midway,  although  in  wells  at 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      THE    EMBAYMENT    CLAYS  305 

Cairo  and  Mound  City,  beds  100  feet  thick  have  been  classified  as  Porters 
Creek  [Midway].1 

This  phase  of  the  Midway  extends  westward  from  Caledonia  as  a  belt 
a  few  miles  wide. 

Lithologic  Character. — Sections  indicating  the  character  of  the  Midway, 
especially  its  variability,  follow : 

Section  of  the  Midivay  formation  at  Caledonia  Landing2 

Thickness 
Feet 

8.  Gravel,  sand,  and  shale  fragments 5 

7.  Shale  fragments,  light  gray ;  probably  "in  place" 25 

6.  Shale,  light  gray,  lumpy   11 

5.  Clay,  sandy,  greenish  gray  and  seamed  by  ferruginous  clay  "dike" 1 

4.  Clay  shale,  dark  gray  or  drab,  seamed  by  ferruginous  clay  "dike" 6 

3.  Shale   fragments,  light  gray    3 

2.  Clay  shale,  brown  to  black,  "fat,"  lumpy 3 

1.  Shale,  debris,  dark  and  light  gray  2 

Water  level 

The  section  varies  from  place  to  place  as  is  evident  from  the  following : 

Section  of  Midivay  formation  a  quarter  mile  upstream  from  Caledonia  Landing 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

12.     Gravel,  chert  pebbles 1  ± 

11.     Shale,  gray,  sandy,  small  stains  of  lignite 8 

10.     Sand,  small  hollow  iron  concretions 3  6 

9.  Sands  and  clay,  buff  and  gray,  partly  covered 5  6 

8.  Hematite    layer 2 

7.  Sand    6 

6.  Iron  oxide  bed,  concretionary,  platy 4 

5.  Sand,  gray,  micaceous    2 

4.  Ferruginous  bed   10 

3.  Sand,  buff,  and  iron  concretions 1  6 

2.  Concretionary  ferruginous  bed,  indistinct  fossil  casts    (?) 8 

1.     Covered    10  (Bar.) 

Water  level 

The  nature  of  the  Midway  beds  at  this  place  strongly  suggests  beds  of 
Ripley  age. 

Less  than  a  quarter  mile  below  Caledonia  Landing,  a  solid  bank  of  55 
feet  of  dark  shale,  almost  black  when  wet,  but  light  gray  when  dry,  rises 
above  the  water  level.  Upon  drying  it  cracks  out  in  characteristically  large, 
roughly  angular  blocks.  This  deposit  is  the  "soapstone"  of  the  Midway 
group. 

iPurdy,  Ross  C,  and  DeWolf,  Frank  W.,  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  4,  p.  3  43,  1907. 
2Ibid.,  p.  144. 


306  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Section  of  Chalk  Bank  2l/2  miles  above  Caledonia 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 
Pleistocene  and  Recent  deposits 

11.     Soil,  grading  into  loess  at  base 1  6 

10.     Loess    15 

Lafayette  formation 

9.     Clay,  sandy  and  bedded,  below ;    angular  chert  pebbles  in  clay 

above ;    a  re-worked  base 3 

Midway  formation 

8.     Sand  and  limonite  beds ;    cross-bedded,  clayey  above,  stringers 

of  clay  pebbles  in  base 10 

7.     Sand,  very  fine,  ash-colored  ;    limonite  concretions,  clay  lenses 

near  top;    "Petrified  hickory";    wash  shows  greensand. . . .  30 

Sharp  break 

Ripley  formation 

6.     Clay,  chocolate,  stained  by  plant  remains 6 

5.     Sand,  ash-colored  and  buff  8 

4.     Covered   5  6 

3.     Clay 3 

2.     Limonite,  concretionary    1 

1.     Clay  shale,  micaceous,  thinly  bedded,  numerous  pyrite  concre- 
tions ;    several  seams  colored  dark  by  lignite  and  fragments 

of  plants  (approx.)   10 

Water  level 

This  horizon  is  replaced  but  a  short  distance  below  by  clay  and  sand  in 
which  limonite  and  lignite  streaks  are  common. 

Section  in  ravine  three  quarters  mile  northwest  of  Chalk  Bank 

Thickness 
Feet 
Midway  formation 

5.     Clay  shale,  dark   10 

4.     Sand  in  loose  beds,  containing  greensand;   grades  into  clay  above..     4 

3.     Conglomerate,  rich  in  iron  oxide ;    voids  filled  with  sand 1 

2.     Greensand,  as  above,  a  few  quartz  pebbles ZV2 

1.     Clay  shale,  impure  3 

The  greensand  of  the  preceding  section  is  about  30  feet  higher  than 
the  base  of  the  Chalk  Bank  section  and  is  exposed  in  several  hollows  above 
Chalk  Bank.  Greensand  is  also  reported  from  near  low  water  mark  at 
Hillerman's  Landing,  but  was  not  seen  in  place. 

Wilcox  Group 

The  Wilcox  group  includes  the  youngest  beds  of  Tertiary  age  in  Illi- 
nois. They  are  exposed  over  the  higher  areas  of  southern  Pulaski  and 
Alexander  counties.  A  section  at  Fayville  of  beds  which  are  regarded  as 
belonging  to  this  horizon  is  as  follows : 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      THE    EMBAYMENT    CLAYS  307 

Section  including  the  Wilcox  group,  at  Fayville 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

7.     Soil   1  3 

6.     Loess   10 

5.     Clay  and  sand,  ash-colored 4 

4.     Sand,  buff,  partially  cemented 5  6 

3.     Conglomerate  layer  cemented  by  iron;    pebbles  up  to  3  inches  in 

diameter    1  6 

2.     Clay,  lignitic    3 

1.     Clay,  sandy,  micaceous   4 

On  the  land  of  the  Aetna  Powder  Company  other  Wilcox  deposits  are 
found :  9  feet  of  light  drab  to  gray  laminated  clay  with  partings  of  mica 
and  an  occasional  thin  seam  of  sand  is  exposed  at  the  first  separator  house ; 
and  in  the  cut  made  for  a  railroad  spur  there  are  20  feet  of  loose  white  sand. 
Pits  dug  for  clay  have  penetrated  similar  sands  in  the  Mountain  Glen  dis- 
trict of  north  central  Union  County,  and  the  sand  beds  at  Hillermans  Land- 
ing and  Grand  Chain  are  also  similar.  These  facts  suggest  but  do  not  prove 
that  the  white  clays  above  the  sands  at  Mountain  Glen  and  Grand  Chain 
may  be  at  the  same  horizon  in  the  Wilcox  group.  The  distribution  and  a 
similarity  of  elevation  suggest  that  they  are  isolated  deposits  overlying  an 
irregular  erosion  surface. 

PLIOCENE   SERIES 

Certain  beds  formerly  included  in  the  Lafayette  formation  have  recently 
been  shown1  to  be  parts  of  different  deposits  and  to  belong  to  several  forma- 
tions, most  of  which  are  as  yet  unnamed.  "It  is  believed  to  be  made  up 
of  unrelated  or  distinctly  related  materials  that  *  *  *  consist  in  the 
main  of  more  or  less  modified  parts  of  the  underlying  formations,  including 
some  residuum  and  colluvium,  and  of  terrace  deposits  of  Pliocene  and 
Quaternary  age."2 

The  Pliocene  deposits  in  Illinois  show  evidences  of  transportation  and 
will  probably  prove  to  be  terrace  remnants.  Chert  pebbles,  angular  masses, 
and  rounded  quartz  pebbles  predominate.  Lenses  of  clay  or  of  clay  and 
sand  occur,  generally  below  the  gravel,  and  there  is  commonly  sufficient  fine 
material  to  fill  all  voids.  The  common  color  is  red.  The  pebbles  often  show 
a  polish  akin  to  a  desert  polish  over  a  maturely  etched  surface.  Large  masses 
display  the  same  polish  as  do  small  rounded  ones. 

Huge  masses  of  conglomerate  are  included  within  other  conglomerates, 
perfect  polished  surfaces  are  a  second  time  recoated  with  rough  red  iron 
cement,  features  which  are  to  be  taken  as  evidences  of  re-working,  trans- 
portation, and  redeposition. 

iShaw,  E.  W.,   The  Pliocene  history  of  northern  and  central   Mississippi :   U.   S.   Geol. 
Survey  Prof.  Paper  108  H,   1918. 
2Ibid.,  p.   161. 


308  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

These  beds  may  once  have  covered  the  older  formations  and  overlapped 
them  at  the  north.  However  that  may  be,  erosion  has  since  removed  all  but 
small  terrace  shoulders  on  the  slopes  or  isolated  remnants  over  the  higher 
areas. 

QUATERNARY   SYSTEM 
PLEISTOCENE    SERIES 

Loess  Formation 

Above  the  gravel  and  red  clay  horizon  is  a  sheet  of  loess,  which  extends 
as  a  mantle  over  and  beyond  the  embayment  deposits  and  except  where 
removed  by  erosion  is  everywhere  present.  It  is  composed  of  a  porous,  buff, 
silty  clay  which  stands  in  vertical  walls.  In  color  it  varies  from  yellowish 
brown  to  red.  The  thickness  of  this  bed  varies  from  place  to  place,  ranging 
from  a  mere  trace  to  as  much  as  forty  or  fifty  feet. 

RECENT    SERIES 
Alluvial  Deposits 

The  latest  deposits  of  this  region,  the  river  flood-plains,  form  the  prin- 
cipal surficial  covering  over  the  continuous  elongate  lowland  area  which 
extends  from  Ohio  River  above  Bay  City  westward  past  Brownfield,  New 
Columbia,  Belknap,  and  Ullin  on  the  south,  and  Temple  Hill,  Grinnell,  and 
Pulaski  on  the  north.  They  extend  from  Mound  City  west  to  near  Fay- 
ville  where  Cache  River  occupies  a  part  of  this  flat  which  was  at  one  time 
the  flood-plain  of  Ohio  River.  Another  smaller  area  extends  from  below 
Hamletsburg  to  near  Brookport. 

"There  are  two  distinct  flood-plains  though  not  always  present  at  one 
locality.  The  upper  or  'second  bottoms'  lies  45  feet  or  more  above  low 
water,  and  has  a  much  greater  extent  than  the  lower  plain,  more  recently 
developed  at  a  level  about  20  feet  above  low  water.  The  lower  flat  is  subject 
to  partial  or  complete  overflow  at  the  present  time,  while  the  upper  is  for 
the  most  part,  at  least,  above  high  water. 

"The  composition  of  these  alluvial  deposits  is  commonly  revealed  along 
river  bluffs  and  in  water  wells.  Sandy  clay  predominates,  but  this  gives 
way,  on  the  one  hand,  to  fine  gray  or  blue  clay  or  nearly  normal  loess,  while, 
on  the  other,  to  beds  of  gravel  one  foot  or  more  thick  and  composed  of  flint 
and  sandstone  pebbles  commonly  as  much  as  two  inches  in  diameter.  Vegetal 
remains,  leaves,  and  wood  are  often  interbedded  with  the  silts  while  other 
clays  are  darkly  colored  with  organic  matter. 

"The  thickness  of  the  alluvium  can  be  obtained  only  from  well  borings, 
and  as  these  rarely  penetrate  more  than  a  few  feet  to  water,  it  is  not  pos- 
sible to  learn  the  thickness  at  many  places  in  this  area.  At  lower  places  along 
the  Mississippi  it  is  thought  to  be  as  much  as  100  and  200  feet  thick."1 


iPurdy,  R.  C,  and  DeWolf,  F.  W.,  Preliminary  Investigations  of  Illinois  Fire  Clay: 
111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  4,  pp.  145-146,   1907. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      THE    EMBAYMENT    CLAYS  309 

These  deposits  are  not  utilized  at  the  present  time.  In  the  days  when 
pottery  was  manufactured  at  Metropolis,  slip  clay  was  dug  from  the  Ohio 
River  silt  near  that  place. 

ELEVATION   OF  THE   ILLINOIS   EMBAYMENT   CLAYS 

A  study  of  the  relative  elevation  of  the  various  clay  deposits  is  of  inter- 
est as  bearing  on  the  mode  of  origin  and  age  of  the  different  clays.  It  is 
necessary,  however,  to  remember  that  noted  changes  of  elevation  have  taken 
place  in  areas  not  far  distant  from  southern  Illinois  in  recent  times,  as  for 
example  in  the  Reelfoot  Lake  district  of  northwestern  Tennessee,  and  that 
similar  changes  may  have  affected  this  area. 

Approximate  present  elevations  of  clay  beds  above  sea  level 

Clay  "diggins,"  Rautn,  Pope  County 420  to  440 

White  and  lignilic  clays  at  Grand  Chain,  Pulaski  County 425 

Mountain  Glen  clays,  Union  County 400  to  460 

Clay  \]/2  miles  west  of  Alto  Pass,  Union  County 625 ^ 

Clay  west  of  Devonian  ridge  at  Kaolin,  Union  County     560=«= 

Clay  east  of  Devonian  ridge  at  Kaolin,  Union  County 560 ± 

Clay  in  southern  Jackson  County  600  to  650 

The  first  three  clays  are  similar  in  many  ways  and  all  are  lignitic  except 
possibly  the  Raum  clay,  in  the  description  of  which  no  mention  was  made 
of  lignite.  The  last  four  clays  are  similar,  in  that  they  are  sandy  and  gen- 
erally have  a  greenish  gray  tone. 

Similarity  in  elevation  of  the  first  three  clays  listed  above,  namely,  those 
at  Mountain  Glen,  Grand  Chain,  and  Raum,  suggests  that  they  may  have 
been  of  the  same  age,  though  the  isolation  of  their  positions  makes  accurate 
determination  of  the  age  impossible.  Terrace  clay  100  feet  or  more  above 
the  better  clay  of  the  Union  County  area  points  to  at  least  one  period  of 
clay  formation  subsequent  to  that  of  the  Mountain  Glen  clay. 

The  fact  that  pure,  white,  plastic  clays  of  this  type  are  present  in  small 
isolated  areas  would  seem  to  indicate  that  much  greater  quantities  of  such  fine 
silt  were  washed'  into  the  larger  embayment  area  from  the  extensive  Missis- 
sippian  limestone  outcrops  and  that  the  present  deposits  are  mere  remnants. 
In  most  cases  sandy  impurities  become  mixed  with  the  silt  in  transportation 
and  the  outer  deposits  are  more  sandy  in  texture.  Such  clays  are  found  in 
the  Wilcox  group  (La  Grange  formation).  "The  clays  *  *  *  vary 
from  pure,  fine-grained,  plastic  material  to  sandy,  silty  clays  that  are  often 
dark  from  organic  matter  or  black  from  lignite.  The  clays  of  the  lower 
part  of  the  formation  are  characteristically  fine-grained,  pure,  plastic,  and 
either  very  light  colored  or  white."1 

iGlenn,  L.  C,  Underground  waters  of  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  west  of  Tennessee 
River,  and  in  adjacent  area  in  Illinois :  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Water  Supply  and  Irrigation 
Paper  164,  p.  34,  1906. 


310  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

As  mentioned,  clay  dug  near  Hickory,  Kentucky,  and  north  of  Mayfield 
is  identical  in  color,  texture,  and  other  physical  properties  with  that  at 
Mountain  Glen.  That  clay  is  of  Wilcox  age.  All  these  evidences  point  to 
the  Wilcox  age  of  the  Illinois  clays. 

The  higher  sandy  terrace  clays  resemble  the  greenish  gray  clays  at 
Wyckliff,  Kentucky,  and  a  later  Wilcox  age  is  suggested  by  their  position. 

The  sandy,  bedded  clays  of  Massac  and  Pulaski  counties  are  in  older 
beds  referred  to  the  Midway  and  McNairy  members. 

Field  and  Laboratory  Notes  on  the  Embayment  Clays 

Field  Notes  by  C.  R.   Schroyer 
Tests  by  C.  W.  Parmelee 

UNION   COUNTY,   MOUNTAIN   GLEN   AREA 
PITS  OF  THE  ILLINOIS   KAOLIN  COMPANY 

The  large  pit,  known  as  the  "K"  pit,  of  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company  is 
located  in  the  SW.  Y\  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W.,  about  a  quarter  mile  west 
of  Kaolin  Station  on  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad.  This  pit  is  approximately 
200  by  300  feet  and  is  about  80  feet  deep  at  the  west  end  where  the  lowest 
working  encountered  a  light  to  orange  colored  sand. 

There  is  a  variation  in  the  section  from  place  to  place  about  the  walls. 
One  section  measured  at  the  west  end  is  as  follows  '} 

Section  measured  at  the  west  end  of  "K"  pit  of  Illinois 
Kaolin  Company 

Thickness 
Feet 

6.     Loess  at  top  

5.     Gravel    1 

4.     Sand,  white,  micaceous  ;    in  places  stained  pink 10 

3.     Sand,  pink  to  dark  purplish  red,  micaceous 10 

2.     Clay,  pink  to  red,  highly  plastic 15 

1.     Clay,  bluish  white,  highly  plastic 15 

In  some  places  the  entire  section  is  sand,  gravel,  and  loess,  while  at 
others  clay  extends  from  the  gravel  to  the  bottom  of  the  pit.  A  sketch  of 
the  north  wall  made  when  the  pit  was  visited  in  March,  1918,  is  given  in 
Figure  47.  The  sand  rises  as  a  huge  dome  and  cuts  out  the  clay  at  its  crest 
over  a  40-foot  width.  Orange  sand  above  is  replaced  by  white  with  occa- 
sional buff  below.  Discoloration  follows  the  line  of  contact  between  the 
sand  and  clay.  White,  purple,  buff,  and  red  are  mottled  in  bands  due  to 
concentration  of  underground  water  circulation  along  channels  of  easiest 
movement.  The  iron  content  of  the  sand  and  the  resultant  firmness  of 
cementation  increase  toward  the  contact  with  the  clay.     Yellow  limonite  is 

iSt.  Clair,  Stuart,  Clay  deposits  near  Mountain  Glen,  Union  County,  Illinois:  111. 
State  Geol.   Survey  Bull.  36,  p.   13,   1917. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY 


311 


Scale  in  feet 


Y E 

^■:>^>^■^^v;;'^^^^^•-^^-X^■':^\^Hf^-^^"V'^'.r■^■^^■^•^/l-r-^■^^^'^.^^»)  >■>.".:  \ 


Zones  of  Slickensided    Clay  Pellets 
and 
Thin   Sand   Lenses 


20 


20 


40 


60 


Scale  in  feet 
Fig.   47.     Diagrammatic  sketches  of  the   "K"  pit  of  the  Illinois   Kaolin   Company. 
Above  :     North-south  profile  section.     Below  :     Sketch  of  the  north  face. 


312  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

evident,  but  Indian  red  hematite  predominates.  At  each  contact  zone  there 
is  a  layer  of  iron  oxides,  generally  impure  from  admixtures  of  sand  and 
clay,  though  several  large  hand  specimens  of  pure  hematite  were  broken  from 
these  seams.  Beyond  the  contact  this  iron  band  grades  from  hematite 
through  limonite  into  red,  purple,  and  mottled  clay.  Concretions  of  iron 
oxide  may  be  found  20  feet  or  more  from  the  contact. 

Along  this  zone  of  iron,  more  commonly  on  the  side  of  the  clay,  are 
numerous  lenses,  pellets,  and  plate-like  stringers  of  clay  with  perfect  slicken- 
sided  surfaces  and  coatings  of  felty  flakes  of  white  mica.  Such  smoothed 
zones  may  be  seen  out  six  feet  or  more   from  the  contact,  separated  not 


aw        jA^^jlffe /»  ill  flfcr  JLfftr.       ^m 

w$}i&Q:- Jfe  ■  '/■** 

-.._.»» 

Fig.   48.     View  of  the  southwest  wall  of  the  "K"  pit  of  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company. 

uncommonly  by  thin  sheetings  of  sand.  Lines  of  weakness  extend  far 
beyond  these  smoothed  pellets,  as  shown  in  some  places  by  checks  in  the 
clay,  and  in  others  only  upon  the  weathering  of  the  clay  after  exposure. 
Such  lines  are  roughly  parallel  to  the  line  of  contact  between  the  sand  and 
clay.  A  few  larger  spalls  of  clay  are  caught  and  completely  surrounded  by 
the  sand.  Rarely  is  a  large  quantity  of  sand  included  within  the  clay,  but 
if  so  included,  it  is  drawn  out  into  a  thin  flattened  stringer  bounded  on  each 
side  by  slickensided  clay  pellets. 

These  zones  have  so  conspicuous  a  color  when  freshly  exposed  that 
they  stand  out  and  can  be  traced  by  the  eye  from  the  far  side  of  the  pit. 
The  purple  iron  zone  is  reported  to  have  been  lower  in  the  direction  of  the 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY  313 

limestone  wall  at  the  south  and  to  have  everywhere  been  underlain  by  sand. 
This  relation  of  sand  to  clay,  due  to  a  doming  of  the  sand  up  into  and 
through  the  clay  may  explain  many  of  the  irregularities  found  in  the  clay 
of  the  district.  Later  drilling  is  reported  to  have  revealed  another  body 
of  clay  with  almost  vertical  walls  northwest  of  the  present  pit,  presumably 
adjoining  the  sand  dome  on  the  northwest. 

Pyrite  occurs  at  certain  levels  near  one  edge  and  a  few  thin  lenses  of 
lignite  were  found. 

Details  of  the  working  of  this  pit  and  the  surrounding  property  are 
given  by  St.  Clair  in  State  Geological  Survey  Bulletin  36  and  will  be 
repeated  here  only  briefly.  The  clay  is  dug  by  steam  shovel,  hauled  by  small 
steam  engine  to  a  large  shed  east  of  the  mouth  of  the  pit,  cleaned  by  hand, 
graded,  and  stored  or  loaded  directly  onto  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad 
switch.  Large  quantities  of  clay  have  been  dug  and  one  wall  now  shows  an 
exposure  of  20  feet  of  variegated,  purple  and  white  clay  above  35  feet  of 
white  and  bluish  white,  highly  plastic  clay.  The  greatest  overburden  is  40 
feet  with  an  average  of  15  feet  or  perhaps  more. 

The  southwest  wall  of  the  "K"  pit  is  cliff  of  limestone  (fig.  48),  and 
the  relation  of  the  clay  to  this  wall  suggests  that  it  was  deposited  in  depres- 
sions bordered  at  least  partly  by  the  limestone. 

Two  other  pits  designated  as  the  "G"  and  the  "F,"  are  located  on  this 
same  property,  north  and  west  of  the  present  "K"  pit. 

PITS    OF   THE   FRENCH    CLAY    BLENDING    COMPANY 

The  pit  of  the  French  Clay  Blending  Company  in  the  NW.  Y\  sec.  35, 
T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W.,  was  not  in  operation  when  visited.  Judging  from  former 
records  and  from  the  fact  that  clay  outcrops  in  a  gully  not  far  from  the 
pits,  the  workings  probably  represent  one  of  the  largest  remaining  clay 
deposits  of  the  area.  One  exposure  of  bed  rock  just  southeast  of  the  former 
pit  is  an  unfossiliferous  limestone  with  chert,  which  dips  14°  NE.  and 
strikes  N.  28°  W. 

This  clay  was  mined  by  shafts  and  connecting  drifts,  and  by  open  pits. 

No  sample  was  obtained. 

GOODMAN    PIT 
Location  and  Method  of  Working 

The  pit  owned  and  operated  by  Dr.  Goodman  of  Cobden  is  located  in 
the  NW.  Y4  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2W.  (fig.  49).  The  clay  is  obtained  from 
shafts  14  by  14  feet,  that  are  tightly  cribbed,  sheeted,  and  intercrossed  with 
strong  log  braces  set  in  about  three  feet  from  each  side.  When  one  shaft 
reaches  the  bottom  of  the  clay  it  is  abandoned  and  partly  filled  with  the 
overburden  from  the  next  shaft  which  is  dug  so  that  it  adjoins  the  old  one 


314 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   191! 


by  half  the  length  of  one  of  its  sides.     This  method  recovers  all  the  clay 
with  a  minimum  working  of  overburden. 

Stripping  and  digging  from  an  open  pit  would  reduce  the  cost  of  pro- 
duction. Prospecting  by  drill  and  pits  would  outline  the  shape  of  the 
deposit  and  the  quantity  available,  and  thus  indicate  the  development  justified. 

Geology 

The  log  of  the  working  shaft,  which  was  down  about  100  feet  when 
visited  March,  1918,  is  as  follows : 


Fig.  49.     View  of  Dr.  Goodman's  mine  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W. 
Log  of  the  Goodman  shaft  in  the  NW.%  sec.  2,  T.12S.,  R.2W. 


Thickness     Depth 
Feet  Feet 


Description  of  strata 


Loess   10 

Gravel  1 

Sand    2 

Clay 

fPink  clay  (Sample  No.  27) 27 

J  White  and  pink  (Sample  No.  28) 30 

[White  clay  (to  bottom  of  pit)   (Sample  No.  25) 30+ 

Sand,   orange    


10 
11 
13 

40 

70 

100 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY 


315 


The  pink  clay  is  reported  to  have  an  approximately  uniform  thickness 
over  the  deposit  so  far  as  worked.  The  white  clay  is  increasing  in  quantity 
and  quality  as  the  pits  are  driven  farther  south  in  the  ridge,  for  accompany- 
ing the  rise  in  the  upper  surface  is  a  lowering  of  the  base.  The  results  of 
tests  made  on  samples  No.  27,  No.  28,  and  No.  25  are  given  on  pages  321-324. 

One  small  pocket  of  lignite  has  been  found  in  the  white  clay  and  five  or 
six  perfectly  smoothed  and  polished  pebbles  have  been  taken  from  the  lower 
levels.     The  top  of  the  clay  rises  south  under  the  ridge  and  the  relation  to 


Fig.   50.     Sketch  made  at  the  mouth  of  the  Goodman  shaft. 


the  sand  at  the  base  suggests  irregularities  similar  to  those  in  the  Illinois 
Kaolin  Company's  pit.  A  sketch  made  at  the  mouth  of  the  shaft  (fig.  50) 
shows  the  relation  of  this  thickening  to  the  overlying  sand  and  gravel.  In 
addition  to  the  samples  noted  above,  a  sample  of  the  "Chocolate"  (sample 
No.  30)  clay  which  is  found  associated  with  the  white  clay  was  taken,  and 
the  results  of  tests  made  on  it  are  given  on  pages  324  and  325. 


316  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

MINES   OF   FREDERICK   E.   BAUSCH 
LOCATION  AND   METHOD  OP  WORKING 

The  present  Bausch  workings  include  three  pits.  No.  1  mine,  located 
near  the  center  of  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W.,  is  reported  to  have  reached  a 
depth  of  55  to  60  feet.  Tunnels  driven  from  shafts  at  various  levels  total 
500  feet.  The  overburden  of  ten  feet  has  two  feet  of  gravel  at  the  base. 
The  clay  is  underlain  by  white  sand.  Both  pyrite  and  lignite  are  present 
commonly  occurring  together.    Pink  clay  is  wanting  in  this  deposit. 

At  mine  No.  2  in  the  NE.  cor.  of  SW.  %  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W., 
the  section  is  given  as  follows : 

Section  measured  at  Bausch  Mine  No.  2  in  sec.  35,  T.11S.,  R.  2  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

3.     Soil   15 

2.     Sand,  reddish,  coarse,  gravelly  (vertical  seam) 40 

1.     Clay,  one  side  of  shaft  pink,  other  side,  white 25 

Mine  No.  3  is  located  in  the  SE.  y4  sec.  27,  T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W.,  near 
the  center  of  the  east  line  of  the  section,  about  one  mile  from  the  loading 
stage  at  Kaolin.  The  mining  is  by  shaft  and  tunnels,  and  the  clay  is  said  to 
be  drifting  down  following  the  quicksand  below.  At  the  present  working 
it  is  30  feet  thick,  with  an  overburden  of  about  \Sy2  feet.  The  clay  is 
assorted  and  trimmed  by  hand. 

Three  grades  of  clay  are  made:  namely,  Al  or  No.  3  (sample  No.  121), 
Blue  No.  2  (sample  No.  122),  and  No.  1  (sample  No.  9)  ;  tests  were  made 
on  these  samples  with  the  results  given  on  pages  325  to  327. 

Geology 
This  pit  is  located  between  upthrown  Mississippian  limestone  at  the 
east  and  the  Devonian  highlands  at  the  west.  The  limestone  outcrops  in  a 
scarp  less  than  200  yards  east  of  the  pit,  dips  20°  E.,  and  strikes  N.  15°  W. 
Drillings  by  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company  south  of  this  pit  near  the  NE. 
cor.  sec.  34  show  only  black  pyritic  Devonian  shale.  The  clay  is  evidently 
in  an  isolated  depression. 

ELMER  GANT    MINE 

The  Gant  clay  mine  is  located  in  the  SE.  %  SE.  J4  sec-  2,  T.  12  S., 
R.  2  W.,  about  \]/2  miles  by  wagon  road  from  the  Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad 
switch  at  Kaolin.  The  clay  is  mined  from  a  shaft  14  by  14  feet  with  "lead 
tunnels."  It  is  drawn  out  by  horse  and  bucket  and  the  better  grades  are 
assorted  and  trimmed  by  hand.  Three  grades  are  made,  pink  and  white 
mottled,  No.  3  (sample  No.  29)  ;  white,  No.  2  (sample  No.  23)  ;  and  the 
bluish  white,  No.  1  (sample  No.  26)  ;  tests  of  these  samples  are  reported  on 
pages  327  to  329. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY  317 

The  overburden  of  loess  and  gravel  is  from  6  to  12  feet  thick.  Several 
test  pits  have  been  dug  and  borings  have  been  made ;  one  is  reported  to  have 
gone  73  feet  in  clay.    The  present  workings  are  35  feet  deep. 

But  very  small  amounts  of  lignite  have  been  found  associated  with  the 
clay  and  no  pyrite  is  reported. 

This  clay  is  obtained  from  a  hollow  on  the  west  side  of  a  loess-covered 
ridge.  On  the  opposite  side,  beds  of  crystalline  Mississippian  limestone  are 
found  in  place  and  loose  slabs  extend  up  to  a  level  which  is  not  far  below 
the  top  of  the  clay. 

T.   P.   SIFFORD  PIT 

A  pit  opened  by  T.  P.  Sifford  is  located  on  the  Mary  A.  Walker  farm 
in  the  SW.  %  sec.  1,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2W.  The  overburden  does  not  exceed 
15  feet.  The  present  shaft,  a  double  hoist,  15  by  10  feet,  has  been  dug  62 
feet  deep  into  50  feet  of  clay.  A  boring,  it  is  said,  penetrated  72  feet  of  clay. 
White  clay  is  reported  to  be  above  and  pink  below.  In  one  side  of  the  pit 
a  streak  of  lignite  was  associated  with  concretions  of  pyrite  and  marcasite. 

This  pit  is  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  Gant  pit  and 
is  separated  from  it  by  a  high  loess-covered  ridge  and  the  crystalline  limestone 
mentioned  above.  A  pit  35  feet  deep,  dug  100  feet  south  of  the  shaft, 
penetrated  nothing  but  orange  sand,  below  the  gravel,  indicating  a  condition 
similar  to  that  found  in  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company's  pit. 

No  clay  has  been  shipped  from  this  pit. 

MADDOX    AND    NIXON    PIT 

The  Maddox  and  Nixon  clay  mine  is  located  in  the  NE.  *4  sec.  10, 
T.  12  S.,  R  2  W.,  less  than  half  a  mile  west  of  the  loading  switch  on  the 
Mobile  and  Ohio  Railroad.  Six  14-  by  14-foot  cribs  have  been  mined  from 
clay  reported  to  be  from  12  to  35  feet  thick.  The  top  of  the  clay  rises  and 
the  base  lowers  as  the  pits  are  driven  farther  back  into  the  ridge.  Three 
grades  of  clay  have  been  obtained:  No.  1,  blue  clay  (sample  No.  11); 
No.  2,  white  clay  (sample  No.  16)  ;  and  No.  3,  pink  and  white  mottled  clay. 
The  best  grade  comes  from  the  lower  parts  of  the  pits.  Results  of  tests 
made  on  samples  No.  11  and  No.  16  are  given  on  pages  329  and  330. 

The  overburden  is  about  12  feet  thick.     White  sand  underlies  the  clay. 

SMALLER  PITS 

Much  prospecting  done  outside  of  the  main  clay  area,  has  discovered  a 
few  small  lenses  of  clay. 

Wm.  Ferril  dug  a  small  amount  of  sandy  clay  from  pits  in  the  NE.  *4 
sec.  3,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.  Much  sand  and  gravel  accompanies  this  clay  and 
the  quantity  is  probably  small. 

Samples  No.  18  and  No.  22  were  taken  from  this  property,  and  reports 
on  their  testing  are  given  on  pages  330  and  331.  The  latter  is  Ferrill's  best 
or  "Blue"  clay. 


318 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND  1918 


R.2W. 


Fig.   51. 


Map  of  the  Mountain  Glen  area.     The  lands  known  to  include  deposits  of  clay 
having  proven  or  probable  commercial  value  are  indicated  by  shading. 


The    following    list  contains    the    names    of    the    owners    of    the   several    pits    or 
mines  shown  on  the  above  map  : 

1.  Frederick  E.  Bausch    (Mine   No.  3) 

2.  French  Clay  Blending  Company 

3.  Frederick  E.   Bausch    (Mine  No.  2) 

4.  Illinois  Kaolin  Company    (3  pits) 

5.  Frederick  E.  Bausch   (Mine  No.  1) 

6.  Dr.   Goodman 

7.  Elmer   Gant 

8.  Maddox  and   Nixon 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY  319 

Another  pit  has  been  opened  in  the  NE.  J4  sec  17,  T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W., 
where  the  clay  is  sandy  and  mixed  with  red  surface  clay  at  the  top.  No 
clay  has  been  shipped.  This  is  at  an  elevation  of  about  625  feet  above  sea 
level. 

Much  other  prospecting  has  been  done,  and  it  is  hardly  likely  that  there 
are  many  deposits  of  the  high  grade  clay  that  are  not  now  known.  Figure  51 
is  a  map  of  the  Mountain  Glen  area  on  which  the  lands  known  to  include 
deposits  of  clay  having  proven  or  probable  commercial  value,  are  indicated 
by  shading. 

COMPARISON   WITH  THE  CLAYS   NEAR   MAYFIELD,    KENTUCKY 

Pink  and  white  clay  reported  to  be  30  feet  thick  is  dug  on  the  D.  M. 
Chapman  farm  2*/2  miles  west  of  Hickory,  Kentucky.  The  pink  clay  is 
mostly  at  the  top  and  there  is  some  coloring  from  lignite.  Similar  clay  is  also 
dug  3  miles  west  of  Hickory,  where  the  average  thickness  is  about  16  feet. 
These  clays  are  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Wilcox  group. 

In  color,  texture,  and  physical  properties  these  clays  resemble  the  Union 
County  clays  of  Illinois.  The  presence  of  lignite  and  the  lack  of  stratification 
is  common  to  both. 

COMPARISON   WITH   THE  CLAYS    OF   LUTESVILLE,    MISSOURI 

In  texture  and  color  the  clays  of  Union  County,  Illinois,  are  similar  to 
the  kaolin  of  the  Lutesville  district,  Missouri.  Those  clays,  however,  are 
thought  to  occupy  the  same  position  as  the  bed  rock  from  which  they  were 
derived  and  are  a  residual  product  from  the  decay  of  a  sedimentary  rock, 
presumably  a  cherty  limestone  interbedded  with  thinner  beds  of  siliceous 
strata.  This  decay  seems  to  have  been  localized  along  fault  planes.  In  the 
Bausch  mine,  two  miles  west  of  Glen  Allen,  a  sandstone  bed  is  now  repre- 
sented by  three  feet  of  quartzite  30  feet  below  the  top  of  the  shaft.  This  is 
interbedded  with  white  kaolin  above  and  below.  Traces  of  former  bedding 
planes  are  evident  in  the  walls  of  the  mine  and  irregular  seams  of  chert 
parallel  the  bedding  and  sets  of  fracture  lines.  Large  numbers  of  chal- 
cedonic  nodules  suggest  considerable  solution,  concentration,  and  redeposition 
of  silica,  though  part  of  the  siliceous  material  is  still  distributed  as  stringers 
and  beds  of  granular  white  "tripoli."  In  some  of  the  concretionary  masses 
such  silica  has  served  as  the  nucleus  of  deposition  and  is  now  enclosed  in  a 
coating  of  hard,  banded  chalcedony. 

The  clay  varies  from  white  through  grayish-white  to  reddish  pink. 

The  presence  of  lignite  and  an  occasional  pebble  in  the  Illinois  clays  is 
proof  of  reworking,  transportation,  and  redeposition,  or,  in  other  words,  of 
a  sedimentary  clay  in  contrast  to  the  similar  clay  in  Missouri  which  is  still 
residual. 


320 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


RESULTS  OF  TESTS 
UNION  COUNTY,   MOUNTAIN  GLEN   AREA 

Samples  F,  G,  and  K3 
(Illinois  Kaolin  Company;    SW.  %  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.2  W.) 
Three  samples  of  clays  received  from  the  Illinois  Kaolin  Company  prior  to  the 
visit   of   members   of   the   Survey   were  tested   with   the   results  as   shown   under  the 
headings  F,  G,  and  K3. 


(F) 

Water  of   plasticity per  cent     37.4 

Shrinkage   water   per  cent     18.9 

Pore  water   per  cent     18.5 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  142.5 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture. .  .  .lbs.  per  sq.  in.  259.5 

Slaking  test   min.     21 

Screen  test : — 


(G) 

(K3) 

41.4 

24.0 

17.4 

145 

195.6 

163.7 

202.8 

21/2 



(Sample  F) 


Mesh 


20. 


^Residue 
Per  cent 
..     .13 


40. 


60, 


120. 


200 


(Sample  G) 


120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage  :- 


.10 

.47 

.13 
3.14 

1.4 


.37 
.22 


Character  of  residue 

Silica  and  particles  of 
coal 

Quartz  particles,  some 
colored  with  iron 

Quartz  particles,  round- 
ed, colored  with  iron 

Clear  quartz  particles 

White  and  brown 
quartz  particles 

White  quartz  particles 

White  quartz  particles 
Quartz  sand 


(F) 

Linear ;    wet  length   5.26 

Linear ;    dry  length    5.68 

Volume    28 

Burning  test : — 

(Sample  F) 

Burning 

Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

9.2 

Cream  11.01 

Gray  exterior ;    bluestoned 11.5 

Tan  exterior;   bluestoned 10.8  J> 

10.6] 

Tan  exterior;   bluestoned 11.0 J 


-Per  cent- 
(G) 
5.27 
5.68 
29 


(K3) 
10.0 
11 
40.2 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

19.9 

5 

6.6 

9 

3.2 

12 

3.96 

uy2 

3.68 

15 

4.2 

Remarks 


Hackly  fracture 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY 


321 


(Sample  G) 

2  25.1          White    5.9 

5  18             Cream  white 8.4 

9  7.55        Cream   9.2 

12  2.81         9.4 

13  2.57        11.4 

15  3.26        Tan  exterior ;    bluestoned 11.1 


Hackly  fracture 

Hackly  fracture ;  vein- 
ing  of  fine  cracks  in 
the  surface 


(Sample  K3) 

04  34  Cream  white 4.3 

02  33  Cream  white 4.8 

2  20  Cream  white 

5  21  Cream  white 9.0 

9  7  Cream  white  12.0J 

13  3  Gray  white;   bluestoned 

14  3  Tan  exterior ;   bluestoned 13.0 

(F) 
Fusion  test    


Hackly  fracture 


Fine-meshed  surface 
cracks 


(G) 


(K3) 


Cone  29/30        Cone  32 


Summary 

Samples  F,  G,  and  K3  are  all  similar  in  appearance,  excepting  for  the  slight 
differences  in  color.  In  plasticity  and  working  properties  there  is  little  difference. 
They  are  all  similar  in  having  a  higher  strength  when  mixed  with  standard  sand 
than  when  tested  as  pure  clay.  The  bonding  strengths  of  K3  and  F  are  medium.  G  is 
low.  The  amount  of  residue  left  on  the  various  sizes  of  screen  mesh  is  exceedingly 
small.  The  drying  shrinkage  of  K3  is  medium  high  while  that  of  F  and  G  is  medium 
low.  The  burning  shrinkages  at  cone  9  are  high  for  all  three  samples.  The  sample 
F  is  well  vitrified  at  cone  9,  while  the  other  samples  are  slightly  less  so  at  the  same 
temperature.     These  are  refractory  clays,  which  do  not  overburn  at  cone  15. 

These  clays  belong  to  a  class  which  has  been  found  very  useful  for  admixture 
with  others  in  the  production  of  close  burning  refractory  bodies ;  also  of  bodies 
not  of  refractory  nature  but  of  close  texture  or  having  a  high  content  of  non-plastic 
material  which  must  be  well  bonded  together. 


Sample  No.  27 

(Goodman  pit ;    NW.  %  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 

This  is  a  soft  pinkish-colored  clay,  varying  somewhat  in  shade  and  showing  an 
occasional  yellowish  streak.  The  working  properties  of  the  plastic  mass  are  good 
It  flows  through  a  die  satisfactorily  when  in  a  stiff  condition. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent    36.4 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      8T2 

Pore  water   per  cent    2&2 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  265 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  120.9 

Slaking  test,  average  min.     20 


^one 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

23 

5 

14 

9 

2.6 

2 

1.6 

322  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1*17  AND   1918 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

120 015  Fine     sand 

150 ( 57  Sand 

200 63  Sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  6.7 

Linear ;    dry  length  7.38 

Volume  29.4 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Pink 9.57       

Pink 10.85        Hackly  fracture 

Light  tan  ;    bluestoned 12.0  Hackly  fracture 

Light  tan  exterior ;   heavily  blue- 
stoned 

13^          7             Light  tan  exterior ;  heavily  blue- 
stoned   9.27        

15  6.24        Dark  buff ;   bluestoned 10.4  Fine  mesh  of  cracks 

Fusion  test: — It  deforms  at  29/30  cone. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium.  The  bonding  strength  is  medium 
low.  The  percentage  of  residues  left  on  the  screens  is  slight.  The  drying  shrinkage 
is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  Vitrification  is  complete 
at  cone  12.  The  apparent  overburning  at  cone  13^4  may  be  due  to  the  development 
of  small  cracks  in  the  test  piece  during  the  firing  since  there  is  no  further  increase  in 
the  porosity  at  cone  15.  It  is  a  refractory  clay.  This  clay  is  adapted  for  use  in  the 
manufacture  of  refractories,  especially  those  which  burn  densely.  This  clay  burns  to 
a  very  dark  color  for  a  fire  clay. 

Sample  No.  28 
(Goodman  pit;    NW.  %  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 

This  is  a  soft  clay  varying  in  color  from  cream  to  red.    The  plastic  mass  is  readily 
molded.     It  flows  poorly  through  the  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    38.3 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     18.7 

Pore  water per  cent     19.5 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  192.7 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  151.8 

Slaking  test,  average mm,     10.5 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  7.45 

Linear ;    dry  length   8 

Volume    30.9 


Burning 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

01 

30 

3 

16 

4 

10.1 

6 

7 

9 

3.0 

12 

2.5 

13 

3.4 

15 

4.7 

ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY  323 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Pinkish  white  7.42        

Light  cream 11.1  

Light  cream 11.7  

Cream  12.0  Hackly  fracture 

Cream ;    bluestoned  12.9] 

Gray ;    bluestoned   13.5  [►        Vitreous  ;  hackly 

Cream ;    bluestoned    13.61  fracture 

Tan  exterior  ;   bluestoned 13.4  Hackly  fracture.    Fine 

veining     of     cracks 

throughout  test  piece 

Soluble  salts : — Pieces  burned  at  the  low  cones  show  strongly  characteristic  yellowish 

surface  coating  after  soaking  in  water. 
Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cones  32/33. 

Summary 
This  clay  has  a  medium  low  strength  in  the  unburned  condition.  Its  bonding 
strength  is  low.  The  absence  of  residues  on  the  screens  indicates  a  very  fine-grained 
material.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high. 
Vitrification  is  nearly  complete  at  cone  12.  The  clay  is  highly  refractory  and  is  espe- 
cially adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  such  wares,  especially  those  which  should  burn 
dense  at  a  low  temperature. 

Sample  No.  25 
(Goodman  pit;  NW.  %  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 
This  is  a  white  clay  which  shows  a  few  reddish  stains  on  the  faces  of  fractures. 
Its  working  properties  in  the  plastic  condition  are  good.    When  the  clay  is  in  a  stiff  con- 
sistency it  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    39.5 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     19.4 

Pore  water   per  cent    20 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  131.2 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  141.4 

Slaking  test,  average  min.     12 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length   8.3 

Linear ;    dry  length 9.1 

Volume   32 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream 8.45         

Cream  9.15] 

Gray ;    bluestoned   10.9   | 

Gray ;    bluestoned   11.9    J>      Hackly  fracture 

12.5   | 

Gray  exterior;    bluestoned 11.8  J 

-It  deforms  at  cone  32. 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

23.7 

5 

20 

9 

3.6 

12 

0.7 

uy> 

0.9 

15 

3.0 

ision  test: — It  dei 

324  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium  low.  Its  bonding  strength  is 
medium  low.  Practically  no  residues  are  retained  on  the  screens.  The  drying  shrink- 
age is  medium.  The  total  burning  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  Vitrification  is  com- 
plete at  cone  12.  Overburning  seems  to  be  indicated  at  cone  15.  It  is  quite  possible 
that  this  appearance  is  due  to  the  peculiar  cracking  of  the  piece  rather  than  a  real 
vesicular  structure.  It  is  a  refractory  clay.  It  is  suggested  that  it  will  find  important 
uses  in  the  manufacture  of  refractories,  especially  those  requiring  a  dense  structure. 

Sample  No.  30 

(Goodman  pit ;    NW.  YA  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 
This  is  a  soft  clay  of  a  cream  color,  shading  into  reddish.     Its  working  prop- 
erties in  the  plastic  condition  are  good.     It  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die  when 
it  has  a  stiff  consistency. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    44.2 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    21 A 

Pore  water per  cent    22.8 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  345 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  229  A 

Slaking  test  min.     13 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

120 1.46        Cream-colored  sand 

150 0.39        Cream-colored  sand 

200 0.24        Very  fine  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length   7.5 

Linear ;    dry  length   8.25 

Volume 34.6 

Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream 12.3  

Gray    13.7] 

13.0 1         Hackly  vitreous  f  rac- 

Tan  exterior  ;  bluestoned  interior  13.2  f  ture 

12.4J 

Buff ;   bluestoned 11.4  Hackly  vitreous    frac- 

ture.     Surface    cov- 
ered with  mesh  due 
to  cracks 
Soluble  salts: — Piece  burned  at  cone  2  after  soaking  in  water  shows  greenish-yellow 

surface  coating.     Possibly  vanadium  salts. 
Fusion  test : — It  fused  at  cone  32. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium.     Its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  percentage  of  residues  is  slight.     The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.     The  total 


Zone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

25.7 

5 

1.3 

9 

3.7 

12 

3.2 

13 

0.1 

15 

5.3 

ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY 


325 


shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.     Practically  complete  vitrification  is  reached  at  cone  5 
and  overburning  is  slight  if  any  at  cone  15. 

Suggested  uses :     Refractories,  particularly  crucibles  and  glass  pots,  etc. ;    archi- 
tectural terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  stoneware. 

Sample  No.   121 
(Frederick  E.  Bausch  mines ;    near  Mountain  Glen) 

This  is  a  soft  white  clay.     When  tempered  with  water,  it  becomes  very  plastic 
and  inclined  to  be  sticky.    It  flows  very  poorly  through  the  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    37.1 

Shrinkage  water per  cent    20.9 

Pore  water per  cent    16.2 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  191 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture. lbs.  per  sq.  in.  123.3 

Slaking  test,  average min.   22 -j- 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

60 Trace      Sand 

80 Trace      

120 09 

200 24 


Fine  white  sand 
White  sand  and  mica 


Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  7.4 

Linear ;    dry  length  8.2 

Volume  33.5 

Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream  white  8.3 

Cream  white 8.8' 

Gray ;    bluestoned  9.6 

Gray ;    bluestoned   10.3 

Gray ;    bluestoned  9.8 

Gray  exterior ;   bluestoned 9.3 

Fusion  test: — It  deforms  at  cone  30. 


Zone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

18.3 

w 

13.0 

9 

1.68 

12 

1.40 

uy2 

2.0 

15 

2.5 

Remarks 


Hacklv  fracture 


Hackly  vitreous  frac- 
ture 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  low  strength  and  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The 
amount  of  screen  residues  is  negligible.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total 
shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  Vitrification  is  practically  complete  at  cone  9  and  the 
clay  is  not  overburned  at  cone  15.     The  clay  is  refractory. 

This  is  the  type  of  clay  which  is  useful  in  the  manufacture  of  dense  burning 
refractories. 

Sample  No.   122 

(Frederick  E.  Bausch  mines ;   near  Mountain  Glen) 

This  is  a  soft  white  clay  which  becomes  very  plastic  when  tempered  with  water. 
It  is  also  somewhat  sticky.     It  flows  badly  when  forced  through  a  die. 


326  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    37.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    20.6 

Pore  water  per  cent     17.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  177.0 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  136.5 

Slaking  test,  average  min.    29-f- 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

120 25        White  sand 

200 10        White  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  7.4 

Linear ;   dry  length 7.8 

Volume    35 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream  white  8.0  

Cream  white  Cracked  along  lines  of 

differential  flow 


Hackly  fracture 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

20.0 

3 

13.3 

6 

10.0 

9 

1.3 

12 

2.8 

uy2 

2.4 

15 

3.3 

Fusion  test : — Dowr 

Darker  cream  white 

Gray;    bluestoned  

Gray    9.7 

Gray     10.4 

Gray  to  tan  exterior ;  bluestoned  10.2 
at  cone  32.  Not  vesicular. 
Summary 
The  strength  of  this  clay  with  and  without  the  addition  of  standard  sand  is 
medium  low.  It  has  a  very  fine  texture,  leaving  hardly  more  than  a  trace  of  residue 
upon  the  screens.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and  the  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9 
is  high.  Vitrification  is  practically  complete  at  cone  9  and  the  slight  increases  in 
porosity  at  the  higher  cones  is  apparently  due  to  the  formation  of  fine  cracks  which 
permeate  the  mass,  rather  than  due  to  overburning.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  Uses :  This  clay  belongs  to  the  type  of  refractory  clays  which  is  of 
importance  in  the  preparation  of  refractory  wares  having  a  dense  structure.  It  is  also 
similar  to  the  architectural  terra  cotta  and  stoneware  clays,  although  it  is  doubtful 
that  it  could  be  used  alone  to  advantage  for  the  latter  purpose. 

Sample  No.  9 
(Frederick  E.  Bausch  mines ;    near  Mountain  Glen) 
This  is  a  soft  clay  of  a  pink  color  with  streaks  of  brownish  yellow  and  red. 
Its  working  property  is  fair,  and  it  is  rather  sticky.     Its  conduct  when  flowing  through 
a  die  is  fair 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    32.7 

Shrinkage  water per  cent    23.5 

Pore  water per  cent      9.2 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  104.4 

Slaking  test,  average min.     19 

Fusion  test: — It  deforms  at  cone  31. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY  327 

Summary 
This  clay  is  slightly  more  refractory  than  Nos.  121  and  122  but  similar  to  them  in 
its  properties  in  both  the  unburned  and  the  burned  condition. 

Sample  No.  29 
(Elmer  Gant  mine;    SE.  %  SE  yA  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,  R.2W.) 
This  is  a  soft  white  clay,  marked  by  a  few  yellow  and  a  few  black  veins.     Some 
of  the  pieces  are  of  a  pronounced  yellowish  color.     Its  working  properties  in  the 
plastic  condition  are  good  except  that  it  is  somewhat  sticky.     Its  conduct  when  flow- 
ing through  a  die  is  fair. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    35.8 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     18.7 

Pore  water  per  cent    17.1 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  286.12 

Slaking  test,  average   min.     16 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

120 0.45        White  sand 

200 0.23        White  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length 6.2 

Linear ;    wet  length  5.75 

Volume   30.4 

Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Light  cream    7.4' 

Light  cream  9.6 

Light  cream   9.6 

Cream 10.0 

Cream;    slightly  bluestoned \        Hackly  fracture 

Cream  ;    slightly  bluestoned 

Cream ;  bluestoned 11.0 

Cream;   bluestoned 11.0 

Tan  exterior ;    bluestoned 9.6 

Fusion  test: — It  deforms  between  cones  32  and  33. 

Summary 
This  clay  has  medium  strength.     The  percentage  of  residue  is  slight.     The  dry- 
ing shrinkage  is  medium.     The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  12  is  medium  high.     Vitrifica- 
tion is  nearly  complete  at  cone  6.     Suggested  uses   are   refractories,   especially   for 
crucibles  and  other  dense  wares,  architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware,   sanitary  ware. 

Sample  No.  23 
(Elmer  Gant  mine  ;    SE.  %  SE.  %  sec.  2,   T.  12  S.,   R.  2  W.) 
This  is  a  white  soft  clay  which  has  some  veins  of  red  through  it.     Its  working 
properties  in  the  plastic  condition  are  good.     It  flows  fairly  well  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    35.8 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     19.2 

Pore  water  per  cent     16.6 


Zone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

1 

20.4 

2% 

11.3 

3 

10.6 

6 

2.3 

sy2 

2.0 

9 

2.1 

12 

1.9 

13 

2.2 

15 

3.0 

328  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  311.2 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  302.3 

Slaking  test,  average min.  23 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 Trace       

40 Trace      

60 Trace      

120 0.2  White  sand 

200 0.43        White  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   7.7 

Linear ;    wet  length 7.1 

Volume    32.5 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream  white  10.0  

Cream  white  9.0  

Cream ;   bluestoned 9.5  Hackly  vitreous    frac- 

ture 

Cream ;   bluestoned 10.0  Vitreous  fracture 

Bluestoned  10.0  Vitreous  fracture 

Light  tan  exterior  ;   bluestoned Vitreous  fracture 

Tan  exterior;   bluestoned 10.0  Fine  closed  cracks  on 

the  surface 
Fusion  test: — It  deformed  at  cone  32. 

Summary 
The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  percentage  of  screen  residues  is  slight.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The 
total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  Vitrification  is  complete  at  cone  13.  It  is  a  re- 
fractory clay.  It  is  suggested  that  it  will  be  found  of  use  in  the  manufacture  of  re- 
fractories requiring  a  densely  burned  body  at  a  low  temperature,  such  as  crucibles. 

Sample  No.  26 
(Elmer  Gant  mine;    SE.  YA  SE.  %  sec.  2,  T.  12  S.,   R.2W.) 
This  is  a  soft  white  clay  which  may  be  brought  to  a  good  plastic  condition  with 
the  development  of  some  stickiness.     It  flows  through  a  die  satisfactorily  when  it  is 
in  a  stiff  condition. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    41.5 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    25 

Pore  water  per  cent     16.5 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  259.0 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  137.5 

Slaking  test,  average min.    34 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   8.4 

Linear ;    wet  length   7.64 


~one 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

12.1 

3 

4.8 

6 

2.6 

9 

2.4 

12 

2.9 

13 

1.1 

15 

2.0 

ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY 


329 


Burning 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

16 

5 

1.4 

9 

1.8 

12 

2.8 

13 

3.27 

15 

3.0 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

10.2 

Gray  white   10.7^ 

Stoneware  gray   11.3 

Light  tan  exterior ;  heavily  blue- 
stoned  11.0 

10.0 

Gray  exterior  ;   bluestoned 9.1 


Fusion  test : — It  deformed  at  cone  33. 


Remarks 


Hackly,  vitreous  frac- 
ture 

Hackly  fracture 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  in  the  dry  condition  is  medium.  The  bonding 
strength  is  medium  low.  It  leaves  no  residues  on  the  screens.  The  drying  shrinkage 
is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  Vitrification  is  practically  com- 
plete at  cone  5.  It  is  highly  refractory  clay.  It  is  suggested  that  it  will  find  use  in 
the  manufacture  of  refractories,  especially  those  having  a  dense  body. 


Sample  No.  11 
(Maddox  and  Nixon  mine;    NE.  %  sec.  10,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 

This  is  a  plastic  clay  of  a  white  color.    It  has  good  working  properties  and  flows 
through  a  die  quite  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    32.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    23.5 

Pore  water  per  cent      9.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.    43.4  (  ?) 

Slaking  test,  average min.      6 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

40 None 


60 

80 

120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear 
Burning  test : — 


0.03        White  sand 

0.03        White  sand 

0.8  White  sand,  some  mica 

2.1  White  sand,  some  mica 

dry  length. per  cent     4.5 


Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage         Total  shrinkage 

Per  cent                                                            Per  cent  Per  cent 

02           39.6          Light  cream   3.8  8.3 

1            38.4          Light  cream   4.5  9.0 

3           31.1          Light  cream   7.4  11.9 

5           28.8          Dark  cream    9.0  13.5 

7            15.6          Dark  cream    9.9  14.4 

9            12.9          Light  brown  11.2  15.7 

13              6.9          Light  brown   

Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  33. 


330  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Summary 
The  percentage  of  screen  residues  is  slight.     The  drying  shrinkage  is   medium 
low.     The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.     Vitrification  is  incomplete  even  at  cone 
13.     It  is  a  highly  refractory  clay.     It  is  suggested  that  it  will  find  use  in  the  manu- 
facture of  refractories  of  a  high  grade. 

Sample  No.  16 
(Maddox  and  Nixon  mine;    NE.  VA  sec.  10,  T.  12  S.,  R.2  W.) 
This  is  a  soft  clay  of  nearly  white  color.     Its  working  property  is  good.     Its  con- 
duct when  flowing  through  a  die  is  satisfactory. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    28.3 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     10.8 

Pore  water  per  cent     17.5 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.    64.1 

Slaking  test,  average tnin.     10.5 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

60 0.05        White  mica  and  white 

sand 

80 0.22        White  mica  and  white 

sand 

120 5.3  White  sand 

200 5.4  White  sand 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear ;  dry  length per  cent    4.3 

Volume  per  cent  17.8 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage      Total  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent  Per  cent 

02  35.7  Light  cream 2.1  6.4 

1  35.2  Light  cream 2.1  6.4 

T  .  .  ->  <,  T/r  (Conchoidal 

3  32.2  Lightcream 3.3  ™  j  Fracture 

5  20.4  Lightcream 7.4  11.7 

7  19.6  Light  cream 8.0  12.3 

9  17.8  Light  cream 9.2  13.5 

13  13.0  Dark  gray  9.7  14.0 

Fusion  test: — It  fused  at  cones  30/31. 

Summary 
The   strength  of  this  clay  is  low.     The  percentage  of  screen  residues  is  con- 
siderable.    Its  drying  shrinkage  is  low.     The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium 
high.     It  is  not  completely  vitrified  even  at  cone  13.     This  is  a  refractory  clay  and 
it  will  be  found  useful  in  the  manufacture  of  refractories. 

Sample  No.  18 
(Wm.  Ferril  pit;    NE.  %  sec.  3,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 
This   is  a   soft  white  clay   with  occasional  yellow   discolorations.     Its   working 
property  is  good.    It  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  Per  cent    33.2 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      8.9 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      UNION    COUNTY 


331 


Pore  water  per  cent    24.6 

Modulus   of   rupture : — The  test   pieces   prepared    for  the   determination   of  its 
strength  proved  to  be  too  weak  to  be  tested. 

Slaking  test,  average min.      6 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent                  residue 
20 None      


Trace 
.04 
0.2 
0.7 
0.9 


Fine  white  sand 
Fine  white  sand 
Fine  white  sand 
Fine  white  sand 


40 

60 

80 

120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage,   linear    per  cent     3.1 

Volume    per  cent  12.5 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

White   1.9 

White   5.6 

White   6.2 

White   9.0 

WThite   


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

40.9 

3 

38.6 

5 

36.3 

9 

29.1 

13 

0.05 

Total 

shrinkage 

Per  cent 

5.0    .. 

8.7    .. 

9.3    .. 

12.1    .. 


Remarks 


Contains  very 
fine  reddish 
specks 


Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  33/34. 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  very  low.  The  percentage  of  screen  residues  is 
slight.  Its  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium. 
Vitrification  is  incomplete  even  at  cone  13.  It  is  a  highly  refractory  clay.  It  is  sug- 
gested that  this  clay  will  prove  to  be  of  value  when  used  with  stronger  clays  in  the 
manufacture  of  high  grade  refractories. 


Sample  No.  22 
(Wm.  Ferril  pit;    N.E.  %  sec.  3,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.) 

This  is  a  moderately  hard  clay  of  a  light  gray  color.  It  has  good  working 
properties  in  the  plastic  condition  and  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 

Since  only  a  small  sample  was  secured  for  the  preliminary  test  and  subsequent 
attempts  to  obtain  more  material  were  unsuccessful  because  the  face  of  the  pit  was 
inaccessible,  complete  test  could  not  be  made. 

The  fairly  long  period  required  for  slaking  may  indicate  a  clay  of  high  bonding 
strength.     The  fusion  test  is  very  satisfactory. 

Suggested  uses  :  This  clay  will  be  of  value  in  the  manufacture  of  refractories 
and  possibly  of  particular  interest  to  manufacturers  of  crucibles. 

Slaking    test,    average     min.    42 

Fusion  test:— It  fuses  at  cone  32. 


332 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


MASSAC   COUNTY 


PADUCAH    POTTERY    COMPANY  S    PIT 


The  Paducah  Pottery  Company  has  a  clay  pit  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad  half  a  mile  north  of  Choat,  in  the 
NE.  cor.  sec.  17,  T.  15  S.,  R.  4  E.  The  clay  body  is  lens-shaped  and  the 
accompanying  sketch  (fig.  52)  shows  the  relation  to  the  sandstone  and  gravel 
above  and  the  sandstone  below.  The  grayish-white  laminated  clay  is  14  feet  4 
inches  thick,  and  2  feet  10  inches  of  reddish  brown  clay  above  are  discarded 
with  the  overburden.  The  clay  is  loaded  at  Choat  and  shipped  to  the  plant 
at  Paducah. 

No  tests  have  been  made  to  determine  the  extent  of  the  clay. 


10 8 


10 


Scale  in  feet 


Fig.  52.     Sketch  showing  the  clay  body  and  its  relations  to  the  surrounding  strata  at  the 
Paducah   Pottery   Company's   clay   pit   north   of   Choat. 

A  Soil. 

B  Loess. 

C  Chert  pebbles,  red  clay,  and  quartz  gravels. 

D  Sandstone,  cemented  by  iron. 

E  White  clay,  laminated  with  thin  sheets  of  fine  micaceous  sand. 

Shipments  vary  somewhat  as  the  clay  is  needed  at  the  pottery,  but 
averaged  in  the  spring  of  1918  from  one  to  two  cars  per  week. 


CI  A.YS    FROM    THE   VICINITY    OF   ROUND    KNOB 


No  clay  is  dug  near  Round  Knob  at  the  present  time,  though  formerly 
clay  was  shipped  to  potteries  at  Metropolis  and  Paducah,  and  there  is  an 
abandoned  pit  a  quarter  mile  south  of  Round  Knob,  in  the  SW.  }4  sec-  1> 
T.  15  S.,  R.  4  E.     When  operated  this  pit  furnished  three  grades  of  clay, 


ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      MASSAC    COUNTY  333 

white,  blue,  and  gray,  and  had  a  working  face  of  8  to  10  feet.1  Another 
pit  nearby  had  7  feet  of  clay.  The  overburden  varied  in  thickness  up  to  a 
maximum  of  18  feet.  Clay  could  still  be  obtained  by  removing  a  heavy 
overburden. 

A  sample  was  taken  from  the  road  gutter  a  half  mile  west  of  Round 
Knob,  in  the  N.  y2  SW.  l/4  sec.  8,  T.  15  S.,  R.  4  E.,  where  the  section 
is  as  follows: 

Section  half  a  mile  west  of  Round  Knob 

Thickness 
Feet 

4.     Gravel,  rises  with  the  hill 2  to  6 

3.     Clay,  red  4 

2.     Clay,  white  and  pink,  sandy,  laminated ;    stains  of  iron  oxide  (sam- 
ple No.  46)  6y2 

1.     Sand,  red  and  white   \}A 

A  report  of  the  tests  made  on  sample  No.  46  is  given  on  pages  333  and  334. 

CLAY    FROM    THE    OBERMARK    PROPERTY 

A  well  is  reported  to  have  penetrated  30  feet  of  clay  on  the  C.  G.  F. 
Obermark  farm  in  sec.  36,  T.  14  S.,  R.  5  E.  A  thin  sandy  horizon  lies  about 
4  feet  below  the  surface  and  streaks  of  iron  at  other  horizons.  The  clay  is 
blue-gray,  sandy,  and  of  fair  plasticity.  The  sample  (Sample  No.  47)  was 
taken  by  boring  in  a  creek  bed.  Ten  acres  or  more  of  this  clay  is  available 
under  an  overburden  of  not  more  than  6  feet.  Similar  clay  has  also  been 
dug  in  sec.  6,  T.  15  S.,  R.  5  E. 

A  sample  (Sample  No.  48)  was  taken  from  clay  exposed  along  the  road 
between  sees.  8  and  9,  T.  15  S.,  R.  6  E.  This  is  an  ash-colored,  sandy,  lam- 
inated clay,  interbedded  with  seams  of  limonite  and  probably  not  of  com- 
mercial value.  These  two  samples  (No.  47  and  No.  48)  were  tested  with  the 
results  given  on  pages  334  and  335. 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
MASSAC    COUNTY 

Sample  No.  46 
(N.  y2  S W.  %  sec.  8,  T.  15  S.,  R.  4  E.) 
This   is   a   soft,   very   sandy   clay,   containing   much   mica.     It  is   a   cream  color, 
mottled  with  brown  and  pink.     When  mixed  with  sufficient  water,  it  develops  a  fair 
degree  of  plasticity  and  will  flow  through  a  die  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    22.2 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     11.6 

Pore  water  per  cent     10.6 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  217.4 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  214.0 

Slaking  test,  average min.     27 

iPurdy,  R.  C,  and  DeWolf,  F.  W.,  Preliminary  Investigations  of  Illinois  Fire  Clay: 
111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  4,  p.  149,  1907.     See  description  of  sample  D28. 


The  clay  expands  dur- 
ing burning 

The  burned  pieces  are 
very  weak 


334  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  Residue 

20 Trace       Pyrites,  sandstone  and 

mica 

40 Trace      Pyrites,  sandstone  and 

mica 

60 2.9  Mica  and  sand 

80 1.7  White  sand 

120 36.2  White  sand 

150 13.5  White  sand 

200 5.9  White  sand 

Drying  shrinkage,   linear per  cent    2.9 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Percent  Percent 

08  36.7  Light  brownish  red +0.5 

06  35.4  Light  brownish  red +0.6 

04  35  Light  brownish  red +0.8 

02  36.8  Light  brownish  red +0.6 

1  34.9  Light  brownish  red +0.8 

3  36.5  Light  brownish  red +0.6 

5  36.3  Darker  brownish  red   +0.5 

7  35.3  Darker  with  iron  specks +1.0 

9  36.0  Darker  with  iron  specks +0.7 

11  35.5  Darker  with  iron  specks +0.9 

Fusion  test: — It  deformed  at  cone  31. 

Summary 

This  is  a  clay  of  medium  strength,  much  higher  than  might  be  expected  con- 
sidering its  very  sandy  character.  The  bonding  strength  is  medium.  The  percentages 
of  screen  residues  are  high.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  low.  Because  of  its  sandy 
nature,  the  clay  has  a  high  and  nearly  constant  porosity  at  all  temperatures  showing 
no  sign  of  vitrification.  This  also  explains  the  reason  for  the  fact  that  it  does  not 
shrink  but  expands  slightly  at  all  temperatures. 

Suggested  uses :  The  lack  of  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  will  restrict  its 
usefulness  to  admixtures  with  other  clays.  Such  sandy  clays  often  have  a  distinct 
usefulness.     Because  of  its  high  fusion  test  it  should  be  of  use  in  refractories. 

Sample  No.  47 

(C.  G.  F    Obermark  farm  ;    sec.  36,  T.  14  S.,  R.  5  E.) 

This  is  a  dark  colored,  moderately  hard  clay.  It  has  a  medium  plasticity  when 
mixed  with  28.5%  water  and  in  that  condition  shows  rather  poor  flowing  properties 
when  squeezed  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    25.3 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     16.0 

Pore  water  per  cent      9.3 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  365.8 

Slaking  test,  average  win.     10 

Drying   shrinkage,   linear per  cent     6.8 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      PULASKI    COUNTY 


335 


urning 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

20.6 

1 

20.9 

3 

19.6 

7 

13.9 

9 

7.6 

10 

9.5 

usion  test : — Com] 

Burning  Total 

Color                         shrinkage  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

Dark  cream 3.2  10.0 

Dark  cream 3.2  10.0 

Cream 3.2  10.0 

Gray    3.4  10.2 

Gray   4.4  11.2 

Gray    — 


Remarks 


Conchoidal  fracture 

No   evidence   of   over- 
burning 


-Completely  deformed  and  vesicular  at  cone  27. 
Summary 
This  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  medium  drying  shrinkage.     The  burning 
shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  low.     It  is  an  open  burning  clay,  which  is  incompletely  vitrified 
at  cone  10.     The  clay  is  not  refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :     Face  brick,  stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware. 

Sample  No.  48 
(Sees.  8  and  9,    T.  15  S.,    R.  6  E.) 
This  is  a  gray  colored  clay,  mottled  with  brown.     It  contains  much  mica. 

Slaking  test,  average  min.     12.5 

Fusion  test : — No  deformation  at  cone  27. 

Summary 
Insufficient  material  was  received  for  complete  test.     However,  it  was  found  to 
be  a  refractory  clay.    The  mode  of  occurrence  with  seams  of  limonite  will  prevent  its 
use  unless  some  method  of  purification  is  employed. 


PULASKI   COUNTY 


CLAYS    FROM    THE    VICINITY    OF    GRAND    CHAIN 


Clay  was  formerly  dug  for  pottery  near  Grand  Chain  Landing  and  re- 
cently prospect  pits  have  been  opened  at  several  places. 

On  the  O.  C.  Field  property  pits  have  been  dug  in  lenses  of  clay  in  the 
NE.  Y\  sec.  9,  T.  15  S.,  R  2  E.,  where  sample  No.  38,  tests  of  which  are  re- 
ported on  pages  336  and  337,  was  taken.  Both  the  bottom  and  the  top  are 
irregular,  the  top  rising  backward  into  the  hill.  A  thickness  of  20  feet  of 
"black  fat"  clay  has  been  exposed  and  is  said  to  be  underlain  by  blue  and 
pink  clay.  The  overburden  of  3  feet  of  iron-cemented  sand  and  gravel 
capped  by  loess  thickens  back  over  the  ridge  to  a  maximum  of  15  feet.  Clay 
has  also  been  worked  just  above  water  level  in  Ohio  River. 

J.  W.  Joynt  of  Tamms,  Illinois,  has  done  considerable  prospecting  both 
by  boring  and  pits  in  east  half  of  sec.  4  and  west  half  of  sec.  3,  T.  15  S., 
R.  2  E. 

The  clay  is  irregular  and  lenticular,  ranging  up  to  12  feet  as  a  maxi- 
mum thickness.  It  is  underlain  by  sand  and  overlain  by  gravel  and  loess. 
At  pits  in  the  N.  y2  SE.  *4  sec.  4  the  overburden  will  average  14  to  15  feet. 
This  clay  is  white  and  resembles  the  clay  from  Mountain  Glen.     Clay  from 


336  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

the  J.  B.  Hays  farm  in  the  SW.  l/\.  sec.  3  was  of  a  chocolate  color  and  con- 
tained lignite.  The  sample  No.  37  was  taken  from  a  bin  which  contained 
clay  from  several  test  pits.     Results  of  tests  made  are  reported  on  pages 

337  and  338. 

A  sample  of  white  to  gray  plastic  clay  was  taken  from  the  road  ditch 
two  miles  east  of  Grand  Chain,  where  clay  was  in  the  gutter.  The  sample 
was  obtained  by  boring.    The  section  is  as  follows : 

Section  2  miles  east  of  Grand  Chain 

Thickness 

.    Ft.  In. 

4.     Loess    16  to  32  ... 

3.     Gravel  and  red  clay  4  6 

2.     Clay,  red   1± 

1.     Clay,  white  to  gray,  plastic ;    exposed  in  road  gutter 21  4 

Sample  No.  45  resampled  as  No.  1678  represents  the  upper  portion. 
Sample  No.  44  resampled  as  No.  1691  is  from  the  lower  portion  of  the 
deposit.  Results  of  tests  made  on  these  two  samples  are  presented  on 
pages  338  to  340. 

The  top  surface  of  the  clay  probably  rises  in  the  hill  and  if  so  the 
overburden  would  be  less  than  given  in  the  section.  Other  slopes  show  sand 
and  impure  clay  at  this  horizon,  proving  that  the  clay  is  lenticular  just  as  it 
is  at  other  localities. 

CLAY   FROM   CALEDONIA 

A  sample,  No.  17,  was  taken  from  the  dark  gray  clay  exposed  along 
the  river  bank  at  Caledonia  (nearest  railroad  station,  Olmsted).  This 
comes  from  a  25-foot  exposure  and  is  a  weathered  product  of  the  "soapstone" 
of  Midway  age. 

The  lower  14  feet  of  a  section  exposed  in  the  river  bluffs  on  the  Barber 
farm,  2j4  miles  above  Caledonia,  in  sec.  13,  T.  15  S.,  R.  1  E.,  is  of  a  gray, 
micaceous,  thinly  bedded  clay.  This  contains  some  lignite  and  pyrite  concre- 
tions and  is  said  to  extend  down  to  low  water  level  20  feet  below  the  bottom 
of  the  measured  section.  The  overburden  would  be  very  thick,  but  hydraulic 
stripping  would  be  possible  at  this  place.  Sample  No.  37a  (see  page  341  for 
results  of  tests)  is  from  this  horizon.  A  very  plastic  white  clay  is  exposed 
about  200  yards  down  stream  at  or  near  the  water  level.  The  exposure  is 
small  and  the  quantity  uncertain. 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
PULASKI   COUNTY 

Sample  No.  38 
(O.  C.  Field  pit ;    NE.  %  sec.  9,  T.  15  S.,  R.  2  E.) 
This  is  a  soft  shaly  material  of  a  brownish  color.     It  has  good   plasticity  and 
flows  smoothly  through  the  die  when  a  suitable  amount  of  water  is  added. 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      PULASKI    COUNTY 


337 


Water  of  plasticity  . 
Shrinkage  water  . . . 

Pore  water 

Modulus  of  rupture 
Slaking  test  

Screen  test: — 
Mesh 


per  cent    38.6 

per  cent    24.6 

per  cent     14.0 

lbs.  per  sq.  in.  164.8 
min.     50 


Residue 
Per  cent 
.  0.27 
.  0.25 
.  0.16 
.  1.69 
.     1.52 


20 

40 

80 

120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Linear ;    wet  length  

Linear ;    dry  length   

Burning  test : — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

04  33.4  White   1.8 

02  24.7  Cream 3.4 

2  18.1  Cream    6.0 

5  16.5  Cream  5.6 

9  14.0  Cream  6.0 

13  3.7  Stoneware  gray   7.0 

14  2.8  Dark  buff  exterior,  bluestoned..     6.2 

Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  30. 


Character  of 
Residue 
Rock  particles 
Rock  particles  and  sand 
Rock  particles  and  sand 
Rock  particles  and  sand 
Rock  particles  and  sand 

Per  cent 

7.25 

7.8 


Remarks 


Hackly  fracture 

Hackly  fracture 

Hackly  fracture,  vitre- 
ous 

Smooth  fracture 

Appears  to  be  over- 
burned 


Summary 

The  dry  clay  has  medium  low  strength.  The  amount  of  residues  left  on  the 
screens  is  low.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is 
medium  high.  Vitrification  is  practically  complete  at  cone  13.  It  is  a  refractory 
clay  and  therefore  suitable  for  use  in  the  manufacture  of  such  wares.  The  light 
color  of  the  burned  clay  and  its  other  properties  make  it  available  for  architectural 
terra  cotta,  stoneware,  and  sanitary  ware. 


Sample  No.  37 
(Sees.  3  and  4,  T.  15  S.,  R.  2  E.) 

This  is  a  soft  clay  containing  a  few  nodules  of  carbonaceous  matter.     It  is  of  a 
light  gray  color.     It  flows  through  a  die  fairly  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    30 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    21.6 

Pore  water  per  cent      8.4 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  487.2 

With  507o  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture , lbs.  per  sq.  in.  249.7 

Slaking  test,  average min.       7 


338 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Screen  test: — 
Mesh 


20. 
40. 
60. 
80. 
120. 

200. 


Residue 
Per  cent 
.  Trace 
.  Trace 
.  Trace 
.  Trace 
.       .02 


Character  of 
Residue 


.07 


Quartz  and  mica  par- 
ticles 

Quartz  and  mica  par- 
ticles 


Drying  shrinkage : — 

Linear  ;    wet  length   . . . 

Linear  ;   dry  length  . . . 

Burning  test : — 

Cone     Porosity     Color 


Per  cent 
..     6.6 
..     7.1 


Burning 
shrinkage 

Percent                                                               Percent 
15.9  Cream  4.95 

9.6  Darker  cream  5.7 

1.7  Gray   10.1? 


Remarks 


.57 


5.6 


Conchoidal   vitreous 

fracture 
Conchoidal   vitreous 

fracture 


13^2         18  Tan  exterior;  bluestoned  interior     4.34 

Fusion  test : — It  deformed  at  cone  28. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium  high.  Its  bonding  strength  is 
medium.  There  is  only  a  trace  of  residues  on  the  screens.  The  drying  shrinkage 
is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  Vitrification  is  practically  com- 
plete at  cone  9.  The  sample  is  apparently  overburned  at  cone  \3l/2  although  it  is 
thought  this  appearance  may  be  due  to  the  peculiar  shattering  of  the  clay  during  the 
firing.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  For  refractories,  particularly  those  of  a  dense  character  such 
as  crucibles  ;    also  architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware,  and  sanitary  ware. 

Sample  No.  45  (resampled  as  No.  1678) 
(2  miles  east  of  Grand   Chain) 

This  clay  was  bored  for  samples  and  later  resampled  as  No.  1678.  This  record 
applies  to  sample  No.  1678. 

It  is  a  clay  of  medium  hardness  and  a  red  color.  It  develops  a  good  plasticity 
when  worked  with  the  addition  of  a  sufficient  amount  of  water.  When  the  plastic 
clay  is  squeezed  through  a  die  it  flows  fairly  well. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    29.2 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     15.8 

Pore  water  per  cent     13.4 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  526.6 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  299.5 

Slaking  test  hours     2y'2 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      PULASKI    COUNTY  339 

Screen  test: — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 1.0  Brown  sandstone 

40 Trace  Mica  and  white  sand 

60 Trace  Mica  and  white  sand 

80 Trace  Mica  and  white  sand 

120 30.2  Brown  and  white  sand 

150 9.4  Brown  and  white  sand 

200 2.0  Brown  and  white  sand 

Drying   shrinkage,   linear per  cent    6.8 

Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  36.8  Reddish  brown   0.6 

06  35.0  Reddish  brown   1.1 

04  34.9  Reddish  brown   2.0 

02  35.0  Reddish  brown   2.2 

1  33.8  Reddish  brown  2.5 

3  33.5  Reddish  brown  2.4 

5  34.3  Brown  and  black  2.2 

7  32.7  Brown  and  black  2.2 

9  34.0  Black 1.9 

The  burned  pieces  are  weak. 
Fusion  test : — No.       45  deforms  at  cone  30. 
No.  1678  deforms  at  cone  28. 

Summary 
This  clay  has  a  medium  high  strength  tested  alone  and  a  medium  bonding  strength. 
This  is  particularly  interesting  because  the  screen  test  shows  the  presence  of  a  high 
content  of  fine  grained  sand  which  does  not  impair  its  working  properties.  The  dry- 
ing shrinkage  is  medium.  It  shows  a  very  open  burning  body  at  all  temperatures 
with  low  burning  shrinkages.     The  fusion  test  indicates  a  refractory  clay. 

Such  open  burning  refractory  clays  having  good  plasticity  and  strength  are  of 
value  used  alone  or  in  mixtures  in  the  manufacture  of  refractory  wares. 


Sample  No.  44   [resampled  as  No.  1691] 

(2  miles  east  of  Grand  Chain) 

This  is  a  soft  clay  of  a  gray  color.     It  develops  a  fair  degree  of  plasticity. 

Water  of  plasticity    per  cent    33.8 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    21.4 

Pore  water per  cent     12.4 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  465.6 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  325.6 

Slaking  test min.     32 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  Residue 

20 Trace      

40 ■. Trace      Mica 

60 Trace      


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

08 

31.0 

06 

27.6 

04 

23.2 

02 

22.2 

1 

17.2 

3 

17.4 

5 

11.5 

7 

12.3 

9 

10.4 

11 

10.9 

sion  test : — It  def< 

340  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

80 Trace       

120 1.32  Mica  and  sand 

150 5.47         Mica  and  sand 

200 4.80         Mica  and  sand 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear  ;  wet  length 6.8 

Linear ;  dry  length  7.0 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Light  gray   1.45 

Light  gray   2.24 

Cream    3.81 

Cream    3.6 

Cream    4.1 

Cream    4.6 

Grayish    4.9 

Grayish   5.1 

Grayish   5.3 

Grayish    5.0 

)rms  at  cone  29. 

Summary 
This  clay  has  a  medium  high  bonding  strength.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium. 
It  does  not  reach  a  low  porosity  within  the  temperature  range  employed — up  to  cone 
11.  The  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  It  is  a  refractory  clay,  but  not  of  high 
grade.  In  addition  to  its  use  in  refractories,  it  is  of  the  type  used  for  stoneware, 
architectural  terra  cotta,  and  sanitary  ware. 

Sample  No.  17 

(River  bank  at  Caledonia) 

This   is   a   clay   of   rather   hard   and    shaly   character    which    seems   to    contain    a 

considerable  quantity  of  mica.     The  clay  is  of  a  brownish  color  marked  with  yellow 

specks.     It   has   rather   a    poor   degree   of    plasticity   and    does    not    flow    satisfactorily 

through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    80.9 

Shrinkage  water    per  cent    28.1 

Pore  water    per  cent     52.8 

Modulus  of  rupture   lbs.  per  sq.  in.  180.9 

Slaking  test,  average    min.      4 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

10 0.25         Particles  of  clay 

14 2.2  Particles  of  clay 

20 8.8  Particles  of  clay 

35 19  5  Sand  and  clay 

48 6.3  Clay  and  flakes  of  mica 

65 4.3  Clay  and  flakes  of  mica 

100 5.0  Oay  a^d  flakes  of  mica 

150 4.0  Clay  and  flakes  of  mica 

200 4.1  Clay  and  flakes  of  mica 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      PULASKI    COUNTY  341 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear per  cent     5.0 

Volume     per  cent  25 

Burning  test : — 

Cone     Porosity     Color  Remarks 

Per  cent 
02  38.6  Light  brown    Poorly  oxidized 

1  38.2  Light  brown    

3  38.8  Light  brown    

5  38.6  Darker  brown  

7  34.6  Darker  brown   

9  34.0  Black    Appears  to  show  vitri- 

fication 

13  14.8  Black   Overburned 

Fusion  test : — It  melts  to  a  glass  below  cone  26. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  low.  The  percentage  of  screen  residue  is 
high.  Its  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  It  appears  to  be  overburned  at  cone  13 
even  though  its  porosity  is  still  quite  high. 

The  exceptionally  high  contents  of  water  of  plasticity  and  pore  water  indicates 
a  very  high  colloidal  content.  Because  of  this  the  clay  gives  erratic  results  in  the 
strength  tests.  This  deposit  has  proved  to  be  a  good  grade  of  fuller's  earth  and  a 
plant  is  in  operation  preparing  it  for  the  market. 

Sample  No.  37a 
(Barber   farm  ;    sec.  13,  T.  15  S.,  R.  1  E.) 
This  is  a  light  gray  soft  clay  which  contains  many  mica  particles.     The  plastic 
mass  is  readily  molded  into  shape  and  it  flows  well  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    27.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     14.9 

Pore  water  per  cent     13.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in%  240.7 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  238.7 

Slaking  test,  average  min.     15 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length   3.2 

Linear ;  dry  length 3.4 

Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Percent  Percent 

2  28.80        Cream 2.6 

5  27.00        Cream    2.2 

9  3.7  Light  gray    6.1 

12  7.2  Light  gray  5.0 

lSy2        13.0  2.4 

Fusion  test :— Complete  fusion  at  cone  25. 


342  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Summary 

This  clay  has  medium  strength.  Its  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  It  devel- 
ops a  high  degree  of  vitrification  between  cones  5  and  9  with  a  medium  burning 
shrinkage.     It  overburns  at  cone  12  and  is  non-refractory  since  it  fuses  at  cone  25. 

The  clay  ought  to  find  use  for  manufactures  of  stoneware,  architectural  terra 
cotta,  sanitary  ware  and  similar  wares. 

ALEXANDER    COUNTY 
CLAYS  FROM  THE  AETNA  POWDER  COMPANY'S  LAND 

Bedded  clays  are  exposed  at  several  places  on  the  land  of  the  Aetna 
Powder  Company.  High  on  the  ridge  at  the  first  separator  house,  at  least 
9  feet  of  gray  laminated  clay  has  been  exposed  in  the  excavation  for  the 
foundation.  The  clay  is  light  drab  to  gray  in  color  and  interstratified  with 
distinct  beds  of  mica  and  fine  sand.    The  section  is  as  follows : 

Section  at  first  separator  house  of  Aetna  Powder  Company  at  Fayville 

Thickness 
Feet 

3.  Loess,  with  soil  at  top 20 

2.  Gravel 1  to  2 

1.  Clay  laminated  (Sample  No.  41)  ;  small  crystals  of  gypsum 9 

The  clay  could  not  be  worked  while  this  part  of  the  plant  is  in  operation. 

Results  of  tests  of  sample  No.  41,  which  was  taken  from  the  upper  5  feet, 
are  given  below. 

In  the  hollow  behind  the  old  powder  plant,  clay  is  exposed  at  several 
places.  The  section  varies  from  place  to  place,  but  the  following  is  repre- 
sentative : 

Section  behind  old  powder  plant  at  Fayville 

Thickness 
Ft.  In. 

7.     Soil    1  3 

6.     Loess    10-f- 

5.     Clay  and  sand,  ash  colored 4 

4.  Sand,  buff,  but  loosely  cemented  5  6 

3.  Conglomerate  layers,  cemented  by  iron;  pebbles  up  to  3  inches. ...       1  6 

2.  Clay,  lignitic  3 

1.     Clay,  sandy,  micaceous  ;  very  pure  in  places  (Sample  No.  42) 4 

Most  of  this  clay  has  20  feet  or  more  of  overburden.     Results  of  the  tests 
on  Sample  No.  42  are  given  below. 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
ALEXANDER   COUNTY 

Sample  No.  41 
(Aetna  Powder  Company,  at  Fayville) 
This  is  a  micaceous  clay  of  a  gray  color  streaked  with  brown.     It  is  moderately 
hard.     When  plastic,  it  is  rather  sticky. 

Water  of  plasticity Per  cent    32.3 

Shrinkage  water  Per  cent    21.9 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:     ALEXANDER   COUNTY  343 

Pore  water  per  cent    10.4 

Slaking  test,  average  tnin.      8 

Drying  shrinkage,   linear . per  cent    8.6 

Burning  test: — 

Burning  Total 

Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage      shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent        Per  cent 

02  18.9  Cream    3.9  12.5  Shrinkage    determined 

on  very  small  piece 

13  8.4  Gray   3.9  12.S  Vitreous ;      conchoidal 

fracture ;      not     over- 
burned  ;       shrinkage 
determined    on    very 
small  piece 
Fusion  test : — Yj,  deformed  at  cone  25.    The  cone  appears  to  have  developed  a  decided 
vesicufar  structure. 

Summary 
A  very  plastic  and  rather  sticky  clay,  which  has  a  medium  drying  shrinkage.     It 
has  a  medium  porosity  at  cone  02  and  is  still  quite  porous  at  cone  13  with  a  medium 
high  shrinkage.     Its  fusion  point  is  about  cone  25,  which  places  it  amongst  the  non- 
refractory  clays. 

The  incomplete  tests  indicate  a  clay  which  may  be  suited  for  stoneware,  sanitary 
ware,  or  similar  wares. 


Sample  No.  42 
(Aetna  Powder  Company  at  Fayville) 
The  clay  is  a  uniform  light  gray  in  color.     It  is  rather  hard.     When  tempered 
with  water  it  has  a  fair  degree  of  plasticity  and  flows  through  a  die  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    29.1 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     15.4 

Pore  water  per  cent    13.6 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  283.1 

Slaking  test,  average win.       10 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear    7.5 

Burning  test: — 

Total 
Cone     Porosity     Color                                               shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent                                                            Per  cent 
12.8  Cream 13.7 


02 

5 

9 

13 


Hackly  fracture,  vitre- 
ous 


1.3 
0.0 

0.0 


Gray 
Gray 


16.0 
17.5 
17.5 


No  vesicular  structure  seems  to  have  been  de- 


Fusion  test: — Cone  down  at  cone  25. 
veloped  in  the  cone. 

Summary 
The  clay  has  a  medium  strength.     Its  linear  shrinkage  is  medium.     The  total 

shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.     Practically  complete  vitrification  is  reached  at  cone  5 
and  there  are  no  signs  of  overburning  at  cone  13.     It  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested   uses  :     Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  and  face- 
brick. 


344  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

CLAYS  OF  PENNSYLVANIAN  AGE 
Field  and  Laboratory  Notes  on  Pennsylvantan  Clays 

Field  notes  by  C.  R.  Schroyer 
Tests  by  C.  W.  Parmelee 

MONROE  COUNTY 

Clay  outcrops  in  St.  Clair  County  along  a  small  creek  that  flows  south- 
west in  the  SW.  J4  sec-  22,  T.  1  S.,  R.  10  W.  The  clay  is  at  the  base  of 
the  Pennsylvanian  system,  specifically  at  the  Cheltenham  horizon.  At  the 
outcrop  it  is  mottled  yellow  and  white,  plastic,  and  comparatively  free  from 
sand.  Borings  show  that  the  yellow  color  is  restricted  to  the  upper  part 
where  there  is  an  overburden  of  gravel  and  glacial  drift. 

Section  of  clay  1  mile  south  of  Columbia 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

5.     Overburden,  clay  and  gravel  0  to  20 

4.     Clay,  yellow  and  white  (by  boring)    10  8 

3.     Clay,  white,  exposed  in  bank  of  creek 2 

2.     Clay;   boring  in  bed  of  creek  (Sample  No.  61) 3  6 

1.     Limestone,  Mississippian 

The  slope  above  the  creek  has  slumped  and  it  is  uncertain  if  this  thick- 
ness of  16  feet  2  inches  represents  the  maximum  thickness  of  the  clay,  which 
is  exposed  for  320  feet  along  the  stream.  A  well  28  feet  in  depth  ended  in 
loose  sand  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  outcrop.  Other  wells 
which  should  have  reached  the  clay  if  it  were  a  persistent  bed,  have  not 
revealed  it  elsewhere. 

The  quantity  of  this  clay,  though  apparently  small,  is  probably  sufficient 
so  that  development  for  use  as  a  blend  with  other  clays  might  be  considered. 
It  is  at  the  horizon  of  the  Cheltenham  clay  of  the  St.  Louis  district.  Sample 
No.  62  was  taken  from  a  boring  which  penetrated  the  entire  thickness. 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
MONROE    COUNTY 

Sample  No.  61 
(1  mile  south  of  Columbia) 
This  is  a  medium  hard,  grayish-colored  clay,  mottled  with  dark  brown.     It  has 
a  medium  hardness.     When  tempered  with  water  it  becomes  very  plastic. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    33.5 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    20.5 

Pore  water  per  cent     13 

Modulus  of  rupture,  average lbs.  per  sq.  in.  567 

minimum lbs.  per  sq.  in.  420 

maximum  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  773 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  372.7 

Slaking  test,  average min.     16 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear    per  cent      8.4 


ILLINOIS   FIRE    CLAYS:      PENNSYLVANIAN   CLAYS  345 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 Trace  

35 Trace  

60 0.32  Colored  sand 

120 0.3  Colored  sand 

200 . Trace  Colored  sand 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

02  1.5  Tan    7.6  Hackly,  vitreous 

2  0.6  Tan   7.4  Hackly,  vitreous 

5  1.6  Tan    6.9  Vitrified,  hackly 

9  6.1  Tan    6.3  Overburned 

13  7.0  Dark  tan 5.3  Overburned 

Fusion  test : — Complete  fusion  before  cone  26. 

Summary 

This  clay  has  an  exceptionally  good  strength  when  tested  alone,  but  only  medium 
when  mixed  with  standard  sand.  It  is  very  free  from  all  particles  coarser  than  200 
mesh.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  It  develops  a  high  degree  of  vitrification 
at  an  exceptionally  low  temperature  and  overburns  at  cone  5.  It  is  completely  fused 
before  cone  26  is  reached  and  therefore  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 

This  clay  will  probably  be  most  useful  for  the  manufacture  of  brick  and  blocks, 
etc.,  for  building  purposes,  and  possibly  pavers. 

Sample  No.  62 
(1  mile  south  of  Columbia) 
The  sample  borings  are  a  gray  color,  mottled  with  yellow.     When  mixed  with 
a  suitable  quantity  of  water,  the  clay  becomes  very  plastic. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    38.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    22.9 

Pore  water per  cent     15.9 

Slaking  test,  average min.      8 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear per  cent      8.5 

Burning  test : — 

jmox  Suiuang 

Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage      shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent        Per  cent 

02  1.5  Terracotta  3.7  11.2  Vitrified 

1  1.8  Light  brown 4.0  12.5  Vitrified 

5  0.7  Reddish  brown ....  Vitrified  conchoidal 

fracture 

9  5.0  Reddish  brown 6.5  Overburned 

13  8.5  Reddish  brown ....  Vesicular 

Fusion  test : — Completely  fused  at  cone  27,  vesicular. 

Summary 

This  is  a  non-refractory  clay  which  vitrifies  at  a  very  low  temperature  and  over- 
burns  between  cones  5  and  9.  Its  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  Burning  shrinkage  at 
cone  1  is  high. 

It  is  suited  for  use  in  the  manufacture  of  building  brick  and  common  wares. 


346  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

MADISON  COUNTY 

"The  outcrop, of  the  fire  clay  in  Madison  County  extends  from  a  point 
on  the  county  line  north  of  Godfrey  southerly  and  easterly  to  East  Alton. 
South  of  East  Alton  it  is  cut  off  by  the  alluvium  of  the  Mississippi  River 
bottom.  Fire  clay  is  found,  however,  two  miles  east  of  Collinsville  at  Cantine 
at  a  depth  of  270  feet,  and  it  seems  probable  in  view  of  the  extent  of  the  fire 
clay  into  the  St.  Louis  district,  that  it  may  be  found  underlying  the  entire 
county."1 

This  clay  is  used  for  sewer  pipe  by  the  East  Alton  Stoneware  Pipe 
Company  at  their  plant  Wi  miles  northeast  of  East  Alton. 

Section  of  the  Stonezvarc  Pipe  Company's  shaft  at  East  Alton  in  the 
NE.  Y4  sec.  15,  T.5  N.,  R.9  W. 

Thickness 
Ft.         In. 
7.     Shale,    light   colored ;    flint    concretion   and    nodules    of    carcarous 

ironstone 50 

6.     Shale,  black ;  "slate"  of  miners   1  6 

5.     Coal    (No.  2)    2  3 

4.     Clay,  "little  vein" 4 

3.     Limestone  ;  hard,  flinty,  brecciated  beds 7 

'Green   shale — 3   in. 
Dark  shale — 2  in. 
2.     Fireclay<j  Coal — 1   in.                                                                                     }>     14  6 

|  Light  colored  fireclay — 3  ft.    (Sample  No.  59) 
[Dark  clay,  colored  by  carbon — 11   ft.    (Sample  No.  60) J 
1.     Sandstone,  brown,  below   

Only  the  uppper  2*/2  to  3  feet  of  the  dark  clay  and  the  3  feet  of  light 
clay  are  used  for  sewer  pipes.  The  lower  beds  run  high  in  sulphur  and 
contain  large  amounts  of  pyrite.  These  lower  beds  are  variable  in  thickness 
and  in  places  missing,  so  that  the  total  thickness  is  not  over  six  feet.  At 
the  old  mines  in  the  NW.  J/\  sec.  15  the  thickness  is  reported  to  have  been 
about  seven  feet. 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
MADISON    COUNTY 

Sample  No.  59 
(Stoneware  Pipe  Company's  shaft;  NE.  yA  sec.  15,  T.  5  N.,  R.  9  W. 

A  very  hard,  dark  gray  colored  clay  which  develops  a  good  plasticity  although 
a  little  sticky.    It  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die  when  rather  soft. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     36.2 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent    24.0 


iLines,     Edwin     H.,     The     Pennsylvania     fire     clays     of     Illinois:     111.     State     Geol.     Survey 
Bull.   30,  p.   66,   1917. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      MADISON    COUNTY 


347 


Pore  water per  cent     12.2 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  589.0 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  169.8 

Slaking  test hours      6 


Screen  test : — 
Mesh 


40. 

60. 

80. 

120. 
150. 

200. 


Residue  Character  of 

Per  Cent  residue 

.17        Pyrites 

. .     4.57        Pyrites,  hard  particles 

of  clay  and  fine  sand 

1.05        Pyrites,  fine  sand,  and 

clay 

. .     6.76        Pyrites,  sand,  and  clay 

. .     1.4  Pyrites,  mica,  fine  sand, 

mostly  clay 
. .     1.44        Mica,  fine  sand  and  clay 


Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length   9  72 

Linear ;    dry  length 10.5 


Burning 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

Color 

Burning 
shrinkage 
Per  cent 

Remarks 

2 

3.4 

2.4 

Grayish  white    . . . 

...     6.3 

5 

...     6.6 

Black  core 

9 

5.4 

Tan  exterior 

...     5.7 

Black  core 

12 

14.2 

Red  tan  exterior, 
terior 

bluestoned 

in- 

...     3.4 

13 

11.9 
10.0 

...     2.3 

15 

Buff  bluestoned  . . 

...     2.9 

Large  iron   slag   spots 

Oxidation  conduct : — Very  difficult  to  oxidize. 
Fusion  test : — Down  at  cone  28. 


Summary 

A  clay  which  has  medium  high  strength  when  tested  without  admixture  of  sand 
but  shows  a  medium  low  bonding  power.  It  contains  a  notable  amount  of  mineral 
particles  which  are  retained  upon  the  screens.  The  presence  of  pyrite  amongst  these 
explains  the  slag  spots  formed  at  high  temperatures  as  well  as  the  pitted  and  vesicular 
appearance  of  the  fusion  test.  Undoubtedly  this  clay  can  be  greatly  improved  by 
washing.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  high  and  the  burning  shrinkage  at  cone  9 
is  medium  high.  Its  low  porosity  at  cone  2  is  unusual.  The  overburning  which  de- 
velops between  cones  9  and  12  is  undoubtedly  due  to  the  high  carbon  and  sulphur 
content.     It  is  a  difficult  clay  to  oxidize. 

It  is  thought  that  the  purification  of  this  clay  by  washing  will  greatly  improve 
its  properties  and  extend  its  usefulness ;  otherwise,  it  will  be  very  difficult  to  use 
because  of  its  high  carbon-sulphur  content  and  consequent  slow  oxidation. 


348 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Sample  No.  60 

(Stoneware  Pipe  Company's  shaft;    N.E.  YA  sec.  15,  T.  5  N.,  R.  9  W.) 
The  sample  is  a  dark  brown  clay,  having  a  flinty  hardness.    Its  plasticity  is  good 
although   it  is   slightly  sticky.     When  it  has   rather  a  soft  consistency,   it  flows  well 
through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent    33.05 

Shrinkage  water per  cent    23.05 

Pore  water per  cent     10.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  427 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  164.5 

Slaking  test hours      5 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 


60 
80. 

100. 

150. 

200. 


Trace 

Trace 

0.16 

0.17 

0.15 


Character  of 
residue 
Particles  of  sand 

Fine  sand 

Fine  sand  and  organic 

matter 
Fine  sand  and  organic 
matter 
Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Pet  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  8.72 

Linear ;    dry  length   9.3 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Red   7.28 

Grayish     7.3 

Gray  exterior  7.4 

Tan  exterior;   bluestoned 7.8 

6.1 

31— bloated. 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

2.45 

5 

1.5 

9 

0.7 

12 

2.6 

13 

3.8 

Fusion  test : — Cone 

Total 
shrinkage 
Per  cent 
15.5 

Remarks 

Vitreous 
Black  core 
Black  core 

Overburned 

Summary 

This  clay  is  similar  in  some  respects  to  sample  No.  59.  Its  bonding  strength  is 
medium  low  although  the  pure  clay  has  a  considerably  higher  modulus  of  rupture. 
It  contains  very  little  material  too  coarse  to  pass  a  200-mesh  sieve.  The  drying 
shrinkage  is  medium  high.  The  burning  conduct  is  of  particular  interest  because  of 
the  low  porosity  reached  at  a  low  cone  (2)  and  maintained  over  a  wide  range  of 
temperature.  There  are  some  slight  indications  of  overburning  above  cone  12.  The 
presence  of  a  black  core  at  cones  5  and  9  indicates  that  care  will  be  required  in 
oxidizing  this  clay  during  burning. 

Suggested  uses :  Its  property  of  burning  dense  at  a  low  temperature  and  main- 
taining a  wide  vitrification  range  ought  to  make  it  desirable  for  vitrified  or  close 
bodies.  It  may  possibly  serve  for  pavers  although  the  poor  oxidation  conduct  may 
prevent  this.  It  is  being  used  for  sewer  pipe  and  probably  would  serve  for  conduits. 
The  color  of  the  burned  clay  is  not  satisfactory  for  stoneware.  It  may  possibly  be 
used  for  architectural  terra  cotta. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      CALHOUN    COUNTY 


349 


CALHOUN   COUNTY 

Formerly  a  plant  at  Golden  Eagle  manufactured  fire  brick  from  the 
clay  lying  directly  below  the  No.  2  coal.  The  mines  are  in  bad  condition 
(fig.  53)  and  no  measurement  of  the  clay  could  be  made.  Five  feet  of  the 
upper  part  of  the  seam  was  mined.  At  the  bottom  of  this  level  are  nodular 
limestone  boulders  full  of  pyrite  crystals.  Smaller  boulders  were  found 
scattered  through  the  clay.  The  sample  No.  58  was  taken  from  a  pile  of 
clay  which  had  been  dug  several  years  previous.  However  this  clay  was 
still  unslacked  and  appeared  fresh  and  in  good  condition. 


Fig.  53.     Abandoned  fire  clay  pit  at  Golden  Eagle. 

The  area  underlain  by  this  clay  is  small,  but  with  the  present  equipment 
might  again  justify  operation.  Directly  above  the  clay  is  a  two-foot  coal 
bed  which  is  mined  with  it.     Transportation  is  entirely  by  water. 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
CALHOUN   COUNTY 

Sample  No.  58 
(Abandoned  plant  at  Golden  Eagle) 
This   is   a   very  hard   grayish   colored   clay   which   contains   much   finely   divided 
pyrite.     Upon   the   addition   of   a   suitable   amount   of   water   it   develops   a  good   but 
sticky  degree  of  plasticity.     It  slakes  very  slowly. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    34.4 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     25.5 

Pore  water per  cent     18.9 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  165.7 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  124.6 

Slaking  test   hours       $l/2 


350 


YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1911 


Screen  test 
Mesh 


Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

SO        Pyrites,  fine  sand  and 

particles  of  sand 

09        Mica  and  sand 

12        Pyrites,  sand,  clay  and 

organic  material 
Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  10.05 

Linear ;    dry  length   11.6 


120. 

150. 
200 


Burning 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

10.0 

5 

5.2 

9 

7.0 

12 

5.0 

13 

7.0 

15 

5.5 

Color 


Burning 
shrinkage 

Per  cent 


Remarks 


Tan    

Buff 

Buff  exterior 


6.1 
6.0 
4.3 


Buff 


bluestoned 5.0 

2.6 

bluestoned  2.8 


Small  black  core 
Black  core,  fine  iron 

spots 
Flashed 
Overburned 


Fusion  test : — Cone  x/z  deformed  at  cone  26.     The  cone  has  a  vesicular  structure. 

Summary 

This  clay  has  a  medium  low  strength  and  a  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The 
drying  shrinkage  is  medium  high.  The  effect  of  the  small  residue  of  finely  divided 
pyrite  becomes  evident  at  the  higher  temperatures,  especially  in  the  fusion  test. 
Washing  the  clay  for  some  products  will  correct  this.  The  poor  oxidation  conduct 
should  be  noted.  The  clay  is  on  the  border  line  between  a  non-refractory  and  a 
refractory  material.  The  test  piece  has  the  appearance  of  having  been  overfired  at 
cone  15. 

Suggested  uses  :     Architectural  terra  cotta,  face  brick. 


GREENE  COUNTY 

At  White  Hall,  Greene  County,  fireclay  has  long  been  dug  for  use  in 
the  manufacture  of  sewer  pipe,  and  stoneware  and  refractory  clay  has  been 
shipped  widely  from  the  pits  at  Drake. 

Two  miles  southeast  of  Hillview  in  the  S.  ]/2  sec.  34,  T.  12  N.,  R.  13 
W.,  a  small  amount  of  clay  has  been  recovered  from  above  the  Mississippian 
limestone.  This  is  probably  a  residual  clay  from  the  decay  of  the  limestone 
and  if  so,  does  not  properly  belong  in  the  Pennsylvanian  system. 

The  clay  has  a  greenish  or  bluish  white  color  when  wet,  but  whitens 
upon  drying.  The  exposed  part  contains  abundant  cherty  and  calcareous 
nodules,  and  gritty  calcareous  sand.  The  thickness  may  locally  be  as  much 
as  10  feet  but  the  distribution  is  irregular  and  pockety,  conforming  as  it  does 
into  the  irregular  surface  of  the  underlying  weathered  limestone. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      GREENE    COUNTY  351 

Section  of  the  small  opening  in  S.  lA  sec.  34,  T.  12  N.,  R.  13  W. 

Thickness 
Feet 

4.     Loess  and  soil  10  =*= 

3.     Gravel 2 

2.     Clay,  blue,  containing  calcareous  sand  and  small  gravel ;    traces  of 

pink  (Sample  No.  57) 3 

1.     Limestone,  residual,  decomposed,  and  cherty;    covered  at  base  but 

underlain  by  bedded  limestone  further  down  the  ravine 12 

The  extent  of  this  clay  is  uncertain,  but  it  has  been  found  in  nearby 
wells  to  the  west.  A  few  carloads  have  been  dug  from  the  slope  above  the 
limestone  one  mile  west  of  this  outcrop  where  a  boring  is  said  to  have  pene- 
trated 9  feet  of  clay.  The  results  of  the  tests  made  on  sample  No.  57  are 
given  on  pages  352  and  353. 

The  overburden  would  range  from  15  to  35  feet,  depending  upon  how 
far  the  working  penetrated  the  divides. 

Washing  would  be  necessary  to  make  this  clay  suitable  for  use  as  a 
refractory. 

The  results  of  the  tests  made  on  sample  No.  55  which  is  from  the  E.  N. 
Ford  farm  near  Hillview,  are  given  on  pages  353  and  354. 

Clay  has  not  been  shipped  from  Drake  for  over  two  years.  Previous 
to  that  time  it  had  been  shipped  more  widely  than  any  other  in  Illinois.  The 
greatest  thickness  of  clay  ever  dug  was  26  feet.  A  well  penetrated  8  feet 
of  clay  below  this.  As  both  the  top  and  bottom  are  irregular,  the  thickness  is 
variable  and  becomes  as  little  as  5  feet.  An  eighth  of  a  mile  south  of  the 
station  it  is  20  feet  thick. 

The  overburden  varies  from  10  to  40  feet,  a  thickness  that  makes  the 
working  of  the  old  pit  unprofitable. 

The  clay  has  an  Indian  red  color  locally,  especially  near  the  top  of  the 
west  pit,  which  renders  the  clay  useless  for  refractory  purposes. 

Clay  is  also  reported  from  north  of  the  railroad  at  Drake,  where  a  well 
section  was  given  as  follows : 

Log  of  well  north  of  Drake 

Thickness     Depth 
Description  of  strata  Ft.  Ft. 

"Earth"  12  12 

Not  described   8  20 

Sandstone 7  27 

Clay    15  42 

Limestone    

Sample  No.  136,  sent  in  by  Mr.  A.  M.  Cain,  was  taken  from  a  shallow 
pit  north  of  the  railroad.  Sample  No.  54  was  taken  from  the  lower  clay; 
sample  No.  56  from  the  upper  clay,  ^4  mile  south  of  Drake.  Sample  No. 
53  from  the  farm  of  C.  T.  Hicks,  }i  mile  south  of  Drake.  The  results  of 
tests  on  these  samples  are  given  on  pages  354  to  358. 


352  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 

Section  of  clay  pits  east  of  White  Hall 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 
6.     Soil  and  yellow  underlying  hardpan 3 

5.  Clay,  yellow,  and  till 16 

4.  Shale  and  clay,  sandy ;    stringers  of  gravel 17  5 

3.  Clay,  buff  and  white  (Sample  No.  49) 3  5 

2.  Clay,  bluish  with  scattered  purplish  red  and  dark  stains   (Sample 

No.  52)   7  6 

1.  Partly  covered  to  deepest  part  of  pit;    clay  not  now  worked 3  6 

The  clay  above  as  well  as  that  below  is  used  entirely  for  sewer  pipe 
and  stoneware  by  the  White  Hall  Sewer  Pipe  and  Stoneware  Company  at 
their  plant  in  White  Hall.  Results  of  tests  on  samples  No.  49  and  No.  52 
are  given  on  pages  358  to  360. 

Section  2y2  miles  northeast  of  White  Hall 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

6.  Drift 12 

5.  Shale,  local   1  10 

4.  Coal  (No.  2)    2  6 

3.  Clay,  yellow,  sandy 4 

2.  Clay,  white  and  buff  (Sample  No.  51) 6 

1.     Clay,   bluish;     iron   concretions   in   places;    used   for   sewer   pipes 

(Sample  No.  50) 17  6 

The  results  of  tests  made  on  samples  No.  51  and  No.  50  are  given  on 
pages  360  to  362.  Lines1  says  of  this  area:  "It  is  reported  *  *  *  that 
good  deposits  extending  another  mile  east  are  available  when  the  present  pits 
are  worked  out.  The  dip  of  the  rocks  here  is  easterly,  and  nothing  is  known 
of  the  clay  after  it  gets  below  drainage,  but  it  is  possible  that  shafts  would 
reach  the  clay  over  a  large  area." 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
GREENE   COUNTY 

Sample  No.  57 
(S.y2  sec.  34,  T.  12  N.,  R.  13  W.) 
The   sample   is  a  gray  colored  clay   stained   with  yellow  and  containing  a   few 
black  spots.     When  tempered  with  water  it  is  very  plastic. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    25.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     14.9 

Pore  water per  cent     11.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  565.5 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  370 

Slaking  test,  average ram.       9 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear   per  cent      7.0 

Volume    per  cent    27.6 


iLines,  Edwin  H.,  Pennsylvanian  fire  clays  of  Illinois:    111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  30, 
p.   67,    1914. 


urmng 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

12.9 

1 

18.9 

3 

1.5 

5 

0.3 

7 

0.4 

9 

0.6 

13 

0.6 

ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      GREENE    COUNTY  353 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Gray    12.5  

Cream 11.1  

Dark  gray   12.5  Vitreous   conchoidal 

fracture 

Dark  gray   13.1  

Dark  gray  12.5  Glassy  fracture 

Dark  gray  ^ .   12.1  Glassy  fracture 

Dark  gray  11.7  Glassy  fracture 

Small  particles  of  some  more  fusible  mineral  are  scattered  through  the  mass. 
Note: — Grayish  color  of  cone  3  et  seq.  may  be  due  to  reduction. 
Fusion  Test : — Fused  completely  at  cone  26. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium  high  and  the  bonding  strength  is 
medium.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and  at  cone  9,  the  total  shrinkage  is 
medium.  The  test  pieces  were  virtually  non-porous  at  cone  3  and  showed  no  signs 
of  overburning  at  cone  13,  indicating  a  very  long  range  of  vitrification.  It  is  not  a 
refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  The  very  satisfactory  strength  tests  together  with  the  early 
vitrification  and  long  heat  range  suggest  a  clay  useful  for  stoneware,  architectural 
terra  cotta,  sewer  pipe,  and  paving  brick.  The  rapid  rate  of  vitrification  between  cones 
1  and  3  may  prove  to  limit  its  usefulness. 

Sample  No.  55 

(E.  N.  Ford  farm,  near  Hillview) 

This  clay  is  colored  brown  mottled  with  gray.     It  contains  numerous  lumps  of 

limestone  varying  in  size  from  a  small  grain  to  a  hazel  nut.    The  clay  tempered  with 

water  has  good  plasticity  but  is  slightly  sticky  if  too  wet.     Its  conduct  when  squeezed 

through  a  die  is  fair. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    39.5 

Shrinkage  water per  cent    25.4 

Pore  water per  cent     14.1 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  172.5 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  145.17 

Slaking  test,  average min.     55 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

40 25        Light  colored  particles, 

few  sand  grains 

60 97        Light  colored  particles, 

few  sand  grains 

80 23        More  fine  sand 

120 42        Light  particles  and  fine 

sand 

150 18        Light  and  colored 

200 07        Fine  sand,  mica,  light 

and  hard  particles 


354 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917   AND   1918 


Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length  6.05 

Linear ;    dry  length   7.52 

Volume   25.0 

Burning  test : —  , 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

2  2.19  Very  light  tan 9.58 

5  0.5  Very  light  tan 9.58        

9  3.3  Gray 9.78 

12  4.62  Gray  with  iron  spots 8.4 


Vitreous  fracture 
Small    light    red    iron 

spots  slagged"  in  the 

piece 


13 
Fusion  test  :- 


9.0  

-Deforms  at  cone  29. 


6.3 


Summary 

This  is  a  clay  of  a  medium  low  strength  and  medium  low  bonding  strength. 
It  has  only  a  slight  amount  of  screen  residues  coarser  than  a  200  mesh.  The  drying 
shrinkage  is  medium.  It  is  practically  non-absorbent  at  cone  2  and  overburns  be- 
tween cones  5  and  9.  The  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  Although  the  test  cone  did 
not  deform  until  cone  29  was  reached,  yet  there  were  numerous  slag  spots  indicating 
advanced  stages  of  fusion  in  local  areas. 

Suggested  uses:  Face  brick,  sewer  pipe  (?),  paving  brick  (?),  architectural 
terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware. 


Sample  No.  136 
(A.  M.  Cain;    near  Drake) 

This  sample  is  a  sandy,  hard  clay  of  a  light  gray  color,  mottled  with  brown. 
It  has  a  medium  plasticity  and  is  inclined  to  be  sticky.  When  forced  through  a 
die  it  flows  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    25.6 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     14.9 

Pore  water per  cent     10.7 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  586 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  376 

Slaking  test,  average    min.     28 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 5.31         Quartz  particles 

40 39         Quartz  particles 

60 1.67        Quartz  particles 

80  55        Quartz  particles,  white 

and  brown 

120 3.76        Quartz  particles 

200 2.96        Quartz  particles,  most- 
ly brown 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      GREENE    COUNTY  355 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   9.5 

Linear ;    wet  length  10.7 

Volume 28.8 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

04  24.7  Salmon    +0.65 

02  25  Red  brown  +0.8 

2  23.7  Red  brown 0.2 

5  23  Red  brown  1.4 

9  20  Chocolate    1.5 

13  21  Chocolate 3.1 

Fusion  test : — Completely  deformed  at  cone  25. 

Summary 

This  clay  has  a  medium  high  strength,  tested  alone,  but  its  bonding  strength  is 
medium.  It  contains  a  considerable  amount  of  quartz  sand.  The  drying  shrinkage 
is  medium  high.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  The  burning  shrinkages 
at  all  temperatures  are  low.  In  fact,  there  is  a  slight  swelling  at  temperatures  up 
to  cone  1.  The  clay  is  open  burning  since  its  porosities  are  high  at  cones  5  and  above. 
It  is  non-refractory. 

It  is  suited  best  for  brick  and  similar  products  having  a  dark  color  and  high 
porosity. 


Sample  No.  54 
(+4  mile  south  of  Drake) 

This  is  a  soft  clay  of  a  light  gray  color  mottled  strongly  with  darker  gray  and 
occasional  brown  spots.  After  the  addition  of  a  suitable  amount  of  water  it  de- 
velops good  plastic  properties  and  flows  fairly  well  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent    24.5 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     1 1.7 

Pore  water   per  cent     12.8 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  250 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  220 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue       Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 
20 0.13        Roots  and  rock  parti- 
cles 
40 0.03        Roots  and  rock  parti- 
cles 

60 0.15         Quartz  sand 

80 0.03         Quartz  sand 

120 0.54         Quartz  sand,  and  mica 

200 4.2  Quartz  sand,  and  mica 


356 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Drying  shrinkage : — 

Linear;  dry  length 
Linear;  wet  length 

Volume    

Burning  test : — 


Per  cent 
..     5.7 
..     5.4 
. .  24.1 


Burning 

shrinkage 

Per  cent 


Cone     Porosity     Color 

Per  cent 
02  22  White   

1  22  White 

3  21  Light  cream   2.8 


Remarks 


20  Light  cream  3.5 

19  Light  cream 3.9 


16 


Dark  cream 4.1 


Earthy  fracture,  vana- 
dium? stain 

Earthy  fracture,  vana- 
dium?    stain,     slight 
iron  stain 
Earthy  fracture,  vana- 
dium?    stain,     slight 
iron  stain 


12  7.6       Cream,  bluestoned  slightly 5.7  

13  4.0       Light  tan  exterior,  bluestoned. . .  5.8  

15  4.0       Tan  exterior,  bluestoned 6.9  

Fusion  test: — Deforms  at  cone  29. 

Summary 
This  is  a  clay  having  medium  bonding  strength.     The  drying  shrinkage  is  me- 
dium.    It  contains  very  little  material  coarser  than  a  200  mesh.     The  burning  shrink- 
age at  cone  8  is  medium.     Samples  burned  up  to  and  including  cone  8  have  quite  a 
high   porosity.     This  decreases  rapidly  between  cones  8  and   12.     It  is  a  refractory 

clay-  r         u  •  1 

Possible  uses :     Architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  stoneware,  face  brick,  as 

a  bond  clay  in  refractories. 

Sample  No.  56 
(%  mile  south  of  Drake) 
A  medium  soft  clay  colored  light  gray,  with  brown  stains  and  containing  a  few 
black  nodules.     When  tempered  with  water  it  is  very  plastic  and  flows  well  through 
a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity    *er  cent 

Shrinkage  water   Per  cent 

Pore  water   Per  cent 

Modulus  of  rupture  lhs-  Per  **  tn 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  tn 

Slaking  test,  average  

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 

20 0-3 


mm. 


21.2 
10.1 
11.1 

462 

231.8 
14 


Character  of  residue 


40, 


Rootlets  and  rock  par- 
ticles 
0.12        Rootlets     and     quart? 
grains 


ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      GREENE    COUNTY  357 

60 0.33        Rootlets      and      white 

quartz  grains 

80 0.08        

120 3.42        White   sand  and  mica 

with    some    organic 
matter 

200 8.59        White  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;  dry  length    4.9 

Linear ;   wet  length    4.7 

Volume   19.5 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream    2.2  

Cream    2.5  Earthy  fracture 

Light  cream 3.4  Earthy  fracture 

Light  cream 3.3  Earthy  fracture,  slight 

veining  of  iron  stain 

Cream    3.5  Earthy  fracture 

Dark  cream  4.4  Earthy  fracture 

Light  tan  exterior ;   bluestoned..     4.5  Very     minute     glassy 

spots  on  and  in  the 
piece 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

1 

23 

2 

20 

3 

21.4 

6 

19 

9 

15 

12 

7 

13 

4 

15 

5 

usion  test; — Cone 

Light  tan;  bluestoned 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  dry  clay  is* medium  high.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  amount  of  residues  on  the  screens  is  small.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium 
low  and  the  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware,  sanitary  ware,  face  brick, 
refractory  wares. 

Sample  No.  53 

(C.  T.  Hicks;  %  mile  south  of  Drake) 

This  is  a  hard  clay  of  a  light  gray  color  mottled  with  brown  and  darker  gray 
color.  When  tempered  with  water  it  develops  a  good  degree  of  plasticity  and  may 
be  made  to  flow  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent     \72 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent      8.74 

Pore  water  per  cent      8.51 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  120.2 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  103.1 

Screen  test: —  , 

Mesh  Residue       Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

20 0.3  Quartz     grains,     rock 

grains  and  roots 


358  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

40 09        Quartz     grains,     rock 

grains  and  roots 
60 1.0  White  sand  with  dark- 

er particles 
80 0.4  White  sand  with  dark- 

er particles 
120 3.8  White  sand  with  dark- 

er particles 
200 4.6  White  sand  with  dark- 

er particles 
Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear  ;  dry  length 4.0 

Linear ;  wet  length   3.8 

Volume    17.1 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Percent  Percent 

02  26  White     2.4  Earthy  fracture 

3  23  Very  light  cream  3.6  Earthy  fracture  shows 

vanadium    (?)    stain 

6  22  Very  light  cream 4.4         Earthly   fracture.    Iron 

spots,   very    small 

Very  light  cream 4.6          

Very  light  cream 4.9          

Very  light  cream 6.2          

Very  light  cream 6.2  Iron  spots,  very  small 

and  not  conspicuous 

15              7.0        Bluestoned ;  tan  exterior 7.5           

Fusion  test : — Deforms  at  cone  30. 


8 

19 

9 

18.2 

12 

13.0 

13 

7.6 

Summary 

This  clay  has  a  medium  low  strength  and  a  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The 
amount  of  the  residues  left  upon  the  screens  is  moderate.  The  drying  shrinkage 
is  low.  Shrinkage  at  cone  8  is  medium.  Vitrification  proceeds  slowly  until  cone  13 
is  reached.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  Face  brick,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  and  refrac- 
tories. 

Sample  No.  49 
(Clay  pit  east  of  White  Hall) 
This  is  a  light  gray  colored  clay  with  brown  stains  which  is  moderately  hard. 
Good  plasticity  is  developed  upon  the  addition  of  water,  and  in  this  condition  it  flows 
readily  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent    24.3 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     11.2 

Pore  water  per  cent     13.1 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  369.2 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  189.5 

Slaking  test,  average min.    23 


ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      GREENE    COUNTY  359 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue       Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

20 0.46        Colored  sand 

40 0.37        Colored  sand 

60 1.94        Colored  sand 

80 0.54        Colored  sand 

120 0.13         Colored  sand 

200 Trace       Colored  sand 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;   wet  length    4.75 

Linear ;   dry  length    4.98 

Volume 21.2 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

2  22.8  Cream    7.2         

3  18.4  Light  cream  7.2  Smooth  fracture ;   very 

fine  iron  speck 
6  16.5  Cream    7.2  Smooth  fracture ;    very 


12.9  Cream    5.8  

9.6  Cream    5.6  Smooth  fracture,  very 


fine  iron  speck 

mooth  fracture, 
fine  iron  speck 


12  0.5  Gray  interior ;  light  tan  exterior  7.0  

13  1.01         6.5  

15  8.8  Bluestoned;  buff  exterior 6.0  Very  small  iron  spots 

Fusion  test : — It  fused  at  cone  30. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The  amount 
of  screen  residues  is  slight.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low  and  the  burning 
shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  The  clay  vitrifies  to  a  porosity  of  less  than  one  per- 
cent between  cones  9  and  12.     Overburning  appears  at  about  cone  15. 

Suggested  uses :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  face  brick,  sanitary  ware, 
refractories. 

Sample  No.  52 
(Clay  pit  east  of  White  Hall) 
This  is  a  hard  dark  gray  colored  clay  mottled  with  yellowish  brown.     When 
ground   and    tempered    with   water    it   develops    a    good    plasticity   and    flows    readily 
through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent    23.0 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      9.9 

Pore  water   per  cent     13.1 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  380.2 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  243.9 

Slaking  test,  average  tnin.     10 

Screen  test : — 


360  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Mesh  Residue        Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 
20 Trace       


35 0.12        Particles  of  shale,  coal 

and  sand 

48 0.10         Particles  of  shale,  coal 

and  sand 

65 0.15         Particles  of  shale,  coal 

and  sand 

100 ' 2.0  Particles  of  shale,  coal 

and  sand  with  much 
mica 

150 3.8  Particles  of  shale,  coal 

and  sand  with  much 
mica 

200 8.1  Particles  of  shale,  coal 

and  sand  with  much 
mica 
Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;  dry  length  5.0 

Volume    18.5 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Remarks 

Light  tan   9.1  

Light  tan   10.4  

Tan 10.1  

Gray1    10.4  Semi  vitreous  fracture 

Gray1    11.3  Vitreous  luster 

Gray  11.0  Vitreous    luster,    con- 

choidal   fracture 
-Fused  completely  at  cone  26. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  bonding  strength.  The  screen 
residues  are  considerable.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  The  total  shrink- 
age at  cone  8  is  medium.  The  clay  is  well  vitrified  at  cone  8  and  is  not  overburned 
at  cone  13.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :     Stoneware,  sanitary  ware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  face  brick. 

Sample  No.  51 

(2y2  miles  northeast  of  White  Hall) 

This  is  a  rather  hard  clay  of  a  dark  brown  color  and  good  plasticity.  Its  con- 
duct when  squeezed  through  a  die  is   fair. 

Water  of  plasticity    per  cent  24.0 

Shrinkage    water    per  cent  14.1 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

21.6 

1 

15.7 

3 

10.6 

5 

7.2 

8 

2.5 

13 

1.6 

ision  test : — Fuse 

^Grayish  color  may  be  due  to  reduction. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      GREENE    COUNTY 


361 


Pore  water   per  cent      9.9 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  446.8 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  199 

Slaking  test,  average min.     1 1 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 

20 Trace 

60 Trace 

80 Trace 

120 0.18 

200 1.4 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;   dry  length 6.4 

Linear ;    wet  length   6.0 

Volume    27.8 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

02  19.  White    4.8 

3  16.2  Light  cream 5.3 


Character  of  residue 


Colored  sand 

White   sand   and   mica 


grain 


6  13.5  Light  cream 5.3 

Sl/2        9.8  Cream    5.8 

)  9.5  Cream   6.1 


1.1 

0.5 


Stoneware  gray,  uniform 7.6 

Stoneware  gray,  uniform 7.6 


Smooth,      fine 
fracture 

Smooth  fracture,  near- 
ly vitreous 

Smooth  fracture,  near- 
ly vitreous 

Smooth  fracture,  near- 
ly vitreous 

Smooth  fracture 

Smooth  fracture 


12 

13 

Soluble  salts  : — Pieces  burned  at  cone  02  give  a  strong  yellow  surface  discoloration 
after  being  soaked  in  water. 
Fusion  test: — Deforms  at  cone  31. 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  raw  clay  is  medium  high.  The  bonding  strength  is  medium 
low.  The  percentage  of  screen  residues  is  slight.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium. 
The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  Clay  is  well  vitrified  at  cone  12.  It  is  a 
refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Refractories,  stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware, 
face  brick. 


Sample  No.  50 
(2y2  miles  northeast  of  White  Hall) 
This  clay  is  of  a  dark  gray  color  with  some  portions  brown  and  other  reddish. 
It  is  quite  hard  but  a  good  plasticity  is  developed  when  it  is  mixed  with  water  and 
properly  worked.     Its  conduct  when  flowing  through  a  die  is  fair. 

Water  of  plasticity   per  cent    22.4 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     10.6 

Pore  water   per  cent     11.8 


362  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  207 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  275.5 

Slaking  test,  average min%     \  \ 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue         Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

40. Trace       Quartz  particles 

60 0.38         Quartz  particles 

80 Trace       

120 1.57         Mica  and  quartz  sand 

200 4.7  Mica  and  quartz  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;  dry  length    5.9 

Volume    21.8 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Light  tan,  pinkish   0.13        

Cream,  pinkish  1.5  

Light  tan    3.1  Very   fine   iron   spots 

Tan 3.3         

Stoneware  gray    4.6  Smooth  fracture 

Stoneware  gray   4.5  

-It  fused  completely  at  cone  26. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  dry  clay  is  medium.  The  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  quantity  of  screen  residue  is  small.  The  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  It  is  a 
non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  It  is  reported  as  being  used  for  sewer  pipe.  It  appears  adapted 
for  stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  and  face  brick. 

SCOTT   COUNTY 

The  clay  at  Alsey  underlies  5  feet  of  cherty  limestone,  above  which  there 
are  28  to  34  inches  of  coal.  Between  these  is  a  2-  to  3-foot  thickness  of 
dark,  shaly  clay.  Only  the  upper  part  of  the  lower  clay  is  dug,  as  the  lower 
beds  contain  much  pyrite.  Almost  the  entire  output  of  the  plant  had  come 
to  be  fire  brick  when  it  closed  in  February,  1918,  though  formerly  only 
building  brick  was  made. 

Production  ran  about  20,000  bricks  per  day  but  enlargement  of  the 
plant  insures  a  possibility  of  double  that  quantity. 

The  United  States  Bureau  of  Standards  reports  above  the  signature  of 
A.  V.  Bleininger,  "In  the  fusion  test,  conducted  in  an  electric  furnace,  the 
softening  point  of  the  fire  brick  was  found  to  correspond  to  cone  31^,  or 
approximately  3083  degrees  F.  From  this  it  appears  that  the  fire  clay  may 
be  considered  of  No.  1  grade." 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

04 

28.6 

02 

25.1 

2 

20.6 

5 

20.1 

9 

13.1 

13 

10.8 

Fusion  test : — It  fu 

ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      SCOTT    COUNTY  363 

Sample  No.  71  was  taken  from  the  stock  pile  of  the  clay  used  for  fire 
brick  and  No.  70  from  the  clay  which  overlies  the  limestone.  Results  of 
tests  are  given  on  pages  364  and  365. 

The  Cheltenham  clay  is  exposed  in  the  bluff  of  Mauvais  Terre  Creek 
half  a  mile  west  of  Exeter.  The  section  varies  in  short  distances,  and  the 
clay  is  stained  yellow  by  iron  along  seams  where  water  circulates.  Gypsum 
crystals  may  be  seen  on  the  weathered  surface.  This  clay  was  used  several 
years  ago  by  potteries  at  Exeter  and  Merritt. 

Section  along  Mauvais  Terre  Creek  half  a  mile  west  of  Exeter 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 
8.     Limestone;   weathers  to   rounded  boulders,   some  of   large   size. 

Hard;    fossiliferous    3        10 

7.  Clay,  yellow  and  impure  2        10 

6.  Clay,  dark  blue  3        10 

5.  Clay,  drab  yellow  irony  seams,  gypsum  crystals ;  the  lower  4  feet 

sandy  and  not  included  in  sample ;  probably  high  in  sulphur  and 

iron 12  6 

4.  Clay,  somewhat  colored  by  carbon   8 

3.  Coal  and  coaly  shale  1     0  to  6 

2.  Conglomerate,  sandy ;  pebbles  up  to  the  size  of  a  walnut 2    0  to  6 

1.  Limestone,   Mississippian ;   cuts   out  both   conglomerate  and   coal 

nearby  

Sample  No.  65,  reported  on  pages  365  and  366,  includes  No.  6  and  part 
of  5  of  the  section. 

Section  at  small  coal  opening  on  Mauvais  Terre  Creek  about  4l/i  miles 
downstream  from  Exeter 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

8.  Clay  shale 4 

7.  "Slate"  or  carbonaceous  shale 2 

6.  Coal  (No.  2) 2  8 

5.  Covered     5  4 

4.  Limestone,  nodular  ;   same  as  number  8  of  previous  section 4  6 

3.  Clay,  impure,  stained  yellow  3  6 

2.  Limestone,  regular  bedded,  with  shale  partings 8  8 

1.     Clay unmeasured 

At  outcrops  two  miles  northeast  of  Alsey  numerous  gypsum  crystals 
appear  on  the  surface  of  four  feet  of  clay  just  below  the  limestone.1 

If  conditions  here  are  similar  to  those  at  Alsey,  the  fire  clay  might  be 
expected  to  be  of  better  quality  east  of  the  outcrop  where  it  would  lie  at  a 
greater  depth.  The  record  of  the  city  well  at  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County, 
shows  five  feet  of  fire  clay  below  a  coal  at  a  depth  of  148  feet. 

Near  Franklin  six  feet  of  fire  clay  is  reported  at  a  depth  of  347  feet. 

iQp.  cit.,  p.  68. 


364  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
SCOTT   COUNTY 

Sample  No.  71 
(Abandoned  plant  at  Alsey) 

The   sample   is   a   hard   material   of   a   dark   gray   color.     When    tempered   with 
water  it  becomes  very  plastic.     Its  conduct  in  flowing  through  a  die  is  fair. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    21.8 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     10.9 

Pore  water per  cent     10.9 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  328 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  144 

Slaking  test,  average min.     10 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 

20 0.6 

40 0.13 

60 0.11 

80 0.14 

120 Trace 

200 Trace 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   5.9 

Linear  ;    wet  length 5.6 

Volume    21.4 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

Cream  7.1  Vanadium  stain  ( ?) 

Light  cream 5.3  Vanadium  stain  ( ?) 

Light  cream   6.0  

Light  cream 6.0 

Light  cream 

Cream  6.6  

Bluestoned;   light  buff  outside. . .     9  Contains   fine   black 

specks 


02 

16 

3 

15 

5 

14 

6 

12.7 

8 

11.2 

9 

10 

12 

13 

1.0 

15 

3.4 

Fusion 

test :— It 

Bluestoned  

Buff  exterior  ;  bluestoned  (black)     8.9  

It  deforms  between  cones  30  and  31. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The 
amount  of  screen  residues  is  slight.  Drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and  total  shrinkage 
at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  It  is  practically  non-porous  at  cone  13  and  apparently 
shows  slight  overburning  at  cone  15.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  face  brick,  sanitary  ware, 
refractories. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE   CLAYS:      SCOTT    COUNTY 


365 


Sample  No.  70 

(Abandoned  plant  at  Alsey) 

This   is  a  grayish  colored   clay  of   medium  hardness.     It   is   very   plastic  when 
tempered  with  water. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    41.8 

Shrinkage  water per  cent    31.4 

Pore  water  per  cent     10.4 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  609 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  302.8 

Slaking  test,  average min.      7 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear  per  cent     12.5 


Screen  test : — 
Mesh 

10 

14 

Residue 
Per  cent 

Trace 

Trace 

20 

0.85    " 

35 

6.8 

48 

7.4 

65 

7.4 

100 

150 

5.1 

8.1 

200 

8.5 

Burning  test : — ■ 

Character  of  residue 


Cone     Porosity     Color 
Per  cent 


Hard  lumps  of  black  shale 
Hard  lumps  of  black  shale 


Hard  lumps  of  black  shale  with  particles  of  coal 


Burning 
shrinkage 
Per  cent 


04  20             Yellow  cream   2.9 

02  18             Dark  cream  4.7 

2  7.5          Buff  cream 6.2 

5  3.5          Buff  cream 5.9 

9  2.5          Gray ;  bluestoned 6.8 

13  10             Light  tan ;    bluestoned 5.6 

14  9             21.5 

Fusion  test : — It  fuses  at  cone  26.     Vesicular  structure. 


Remarks 

Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Black  core 
Bloated 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  high  strength  and  medium  bonding  strength.  The  dry- 
ing shrinkage  is  high.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  high.  It  is  fairly  well  vitrified 
at  cone  2  and  is  overburned  at  cone  13.     The  oxidation  rate  is  slow. 

Suggested  uses  :     Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  face  brick. 


Sample  No.  65 

(Bluff  of  Mauvais  Terre  Creek  x/2  mile  west  of  Exeter) 

This  is  a  brownish  colored  shaly  clay.     It  becomes  very  plastic  when  tempered 
with  water.     It  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 


366 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Water  of  plasticity  . . 

Shrinkage  water 

Pore  water   

Modulus  of  rupture  . 
Slaking  test,  average 
Screen  test : — 
Mesh 


per  cent    22.0 

per  cent      9.9 

per  cent     12.0 

lbs.  per  sq.  in.  240.8 
min.      6 


20 

40 : 

60 

80 

120 

200 ; 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Linear ;  dry  length 
Linear ;  wet  length 
Volume    


Residue 
Per  cent 
.     0.22 
.     0.40 
.     0.77 
.     0.64 
.     2.9 
.     2.3 


Character  of 
residue 


Colored  sand 


Per  cent 
..     4.9 
..     4.7 
..   18.7 


urning 

test:— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

24 

1 

24 

3 

22 

5 

21 

6 

21 

9 

17 

12 

9 

13 

3.5 

15 

3.3 

Burning- 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Pinkish  cream 3.1 

Pinkish  cream 3.1 

Medium  cream   3.8 

Medium  cream  4.0 

Medium  cream   4.2 

Light  tan   4.3 

Darker  tan  6.2 

Bluestoned  6.6 

Buff  exterior;  bluestoned  (black)     6.7 
Fusion  test : — It  deforms  between  cones  26  and  27. 


Remarks 


Fine  iron  specks,  earthy 

fracture 

• 

7ine  iron  specks  ;  earthy 

fracture 

Numerous 

fine     iron 

specks 

Numerous 

fine     iron 

specks 

Iron  spots 


Summary 

This  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  low  drying  shrinkage.  The 
total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  It  is  well  vitrified  at  cone  13  and  not  over- 
burned  at  cone  15.     It  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  for  which 
uses  it  should  be  washed,  face  brick. 

PIKE  COUNTY 

Clay  outcrops  in  the  west  bluff  of  Illinois  River  at  Bedford.  The  rela- 
tion to  the  Mississippian  limestone  at  the  north  suggests  faulting.  Twenty- 
seven  feet  of  clay  are  exposed  above  and  16  or  more  feet  below.  This  thick- 
ness makes  the  deposit  of  special  interest. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      PIKE    COUNTY  367 

Section  of  the  river  bluff  at  Bedford 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

7.     Loess  and  loose  limestone  blocks  to  top  of  mound 50 

6.     Covered,  cherty  fragments  over  slope 10 

5.     Clay,  bluish  gray ;    partly  covered  yellow  iron  stains  in  lower  part 

(Sample  No.  67)    • 27  .. 

4.     Covered  interval  11  6 

3.     Partly  covered,  probably  clay 9 

2.     Clay,  blue  (Sample  No.  69) ,  . . .   16     ;.      6 

1.     Partly  covered  to  water  level  in  Illinois  River;    loose  blocks  indi- 
cate Mississippian  limestone  in  the  lower  part  of  this  interval. . .   20 

Clay  has  been  dug  in  small  amounts  about  2  miles  north  of  Pittsfield 
and  used  as  a  blend  for  surface  clay  in  making  building  brick  and  drain 
tile  and  possibly  also  for  pottery.  This  deposit  (sample  No.  66,  p.  369)  is 
reported  to  vary  from  6  to  13  feet  in  thickness.  It  is  of  a  bluish  white  color 
where  exposed  and  has  an  overburden  of  drift  and  loess  up  to  20  feet  in 
thickness.  Boring  has  shown  that  the  clay  extends  back  under  the  bluff  over 
an  area  of  several  acres  and  the  topography  suggests  that  extensive  areas  are 
underlain  by  clay  both  to  the  south  and  east. 


RESULTS    OF    TESTS— PIKE    COUNTY 

Sample  No.  67 

(West  bluff  of  Illinois  River  at  Bedford) 

This  is  a  gray  colored,  soft  clay  which  develops  a  good  plasticity. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    26.5 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     12.5 

Pore  water  per  cent     14.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  303.8 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  248.7 

Slaking  test,  average raw.     15 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

40 0.12  Quartz  sand,  and  pyrite 

60 0.4  Quartz  sand,  and  pyrite 

80 Trace  

120 , 0.3  Sand  and  some  pyrite 

200 0.3  Sand  and  some  pyrite 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length    6.4 

Linear ;    wet  length   6.0 

Volume   23.9 


368  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

04  25.4  Terra  cotta 2.1 

02  16.6  Light  red  brown   4.8 

2  6.7  Brown 7.4 

5  2  Brown-red   5.6 

9  2.7  Brown-red   

Fusion  test : — It  fused  to  glass  at  cone  25. 


Remarks 


Hackly  fracture 
Vitreous,  appears  to  be 

overburned 
Overburned  badly 


Summary 
The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  bonding  strength 


shrinkage  is  medium. 

sample  is  overburned. 

Suggested  uses : 


The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  5  is  medium  low 
It  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 
Face  brick,  sewer  pipe,  hollow  block,  paving  brick  (?). 


The  drying 
At  cone  9  the 


Sample  No.  69 
(West  bluff  of  Illinois  River  at  Bedford) 
This  is  a  clay  of  a  uniform  gray  color,  containing  some  shaly  particles.     It  is 
very    plastic    when    tempered    with    water.      The    flowing    conduct    of    the    clay    when 
forced   through  a  die  is  satisfactory. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    24.7 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     13.5 

Pore  water  per  cent     1 1.2 

Modulus  of  rupture   lbs.  per  sq.  in.  498.3 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  242.0 

Slaking  test,  average   min.     14 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 

20 None 

40 Trace 

60 0.3 

80 Trace 

120 0.2 

200 0.2 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear  ;    dry  length   c 6.6 

Volume  26 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Percent  Percent 

04  26  5  Terra  cotta   4.8  Hackly  fracture 

02  14.4  Terra  cotta 4.9  Hackly  fracture 

2  1.8  Reddish  brown 7.6  Hackly  fracture 

5  24  Reddish  brown Overburned 

9  19.9  Red-brown Swelled 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      PIKE    COUNTY  369 

Fusion  test : — Bloated  and  fell  over  before  cone  8  in  a  Fletcher  furnace. 

Summary 

This  clay  has  a  medium  high  strength,  a  medium  bonding  strength,  and  a  me- 
dium drying  shrinkage.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  2  is  medium ;  vitrification  pro- 
ceeds rapidly  and  is  practically  complete  at  cone  2.     It  is  overburned  at  cone  5. 

Suggested  uses :  Common  brick,  drain  tile. 


Sample  No.  66 
(2  miles  north  of  Pittsfield) 

This  is  a  soft  clay,  colored  yellow  to  dark  brown.     A  fair  degree  of  plasticity 
may  be  developed. 

Water  of  plasticity    

Shrinkage  water    

Pore  water  

Modulus  of  rupture  

Slaking  test,  average    

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  ,  Residue 

Per  cent 
20.'. 0.08 


per  cent    27 

per  cent    13.5 

, per  cent    13.5 

.lbs.  per  sq.  in.  414.5 
min.     11 

Character  of  residue 


40. 

60. 

80. 

120. 

200. 


Trace 

Trace 

Trace 

0.79 

1.32 


Rock  particles  and  or- 
ganic matter 


White  sand  and  root- 
lets 

White  sand  and  root- 
lets 


Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Linear ;  dry  length 

Volume    

Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

17  Cream  4.9 

14  Cream 5.1 

12  Medium  cream    5.8 


Medium   cream    6.2 


Per  cent 
..     8.2 
..  24.5 


Cone 

02 
2 
3 


Remarks 


1.2 


Stoneware  gray  6.3 


Smooth   fracture;  fine 

iron      specks      (?)  ; 

none  on  another  trial 

piece 
Smooth   fracture;  fine 

iron      specks      (?)  ; 

none  on  another  trial 

piece 
Somewhat     conchoidal 

fracture 
Vitreous 


370  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

12  1.0  Gray  white    5.0  Fine    veining    of    iron 

stain;  good  color 

13  1 .6         Gray  white 4.5  

15  3.8         Gray  white   4.5  Fine  iron  spots 

Fusion  test : — It  deformed  at  cone  29. 

Summary 

The  sample  is  a  clay  of  medium  high  strength  which  has  a  medium  drying 
shrinkage.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  Vitrification  is  practi- 
cally complete  between  cones  6  and  9.  There  are  some  indications  of  overburning 
at  cone  15.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  a  plastic 
bond  for  refractories. 

ADAMS   COUNTY 

Toward  the  west  the  basal  clays  of  the  Pennsylvanian  contain  more 
gypsum,  and  are  generally  streaked  by  yellowish  and  buff  iron  markings. 
In  a  road  cut  2y2  miles  north  and  one  mile  west  of  Camp  Point,  Sy  feet 
of  distinctly  bedded  clay  are  exposed.  The  upper  2y2  feet  are  tough,  ash 
colored  clay,  containing  much  gypsum  sand  and  small  gypsum  crystals,  and 
colored  by  streakings  of  iron.  An  overburden  of  from  5  to  15  feet  of  gravel 
and  clayey  till  with  locally  thin  sandstone  layers  immediately  above  the  clay, 
forms  the  covering. 

BROWN   COUNTY 

On  Crooked  Creek  in  the  vicinity  of  Ripley,  clay  has  been  dug  for  stone- 
ware. The  old  pits  one  mile  south  of  Ripley  are  almost  obliterated  by  sur- 
face wash  and  caving.  Since  the  clay  directly  underlies  the  drift  it  does 
not  promise  to  be  of  refractory  value. 

SCHUYLER  COUNTY 

At  a  small  mill  and  kilns  at  Frederick,  drain  tile  is  manufactured  from 
a  mixture  of  surface  clay  and  bedded  Coal  Measures  clay. 

Section  of  the  clay  pit  at  Frederick 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

5.     Loess 9 

4.     "Potter's  clay"    8 

3.     Coal  ("peacock  vein")    3  3 

2.     Clay,  drab  and  sandy;  plant  remains  and  yellow  iron  stains 10 

1.     Shale,  blue   

MC  DONOUGH    COUNTY 

"The  line  of  outcrop  of  the  clay  in  McDonough  County  extends  along 
the  bluffs  and  ravines  of  the  east  fork  of  Crooked  Creek  from  Bardolph  to 
the  county  line  on  the  north  side  and  Tennessee  on  the  south  side,  whence 
it  extends  southeast  toward  Schuyler  County."1     Clay  is  being  dug  about 


lOp.  cit.,  p.   70. 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      MC   DONOUGH    COUNTY  371 

Colchester  and  from  a  pit  about  3  miles  northeast  of  Macomb. 

At  the  open  pit  of  the  Macomb  Sewer  Pipe  Works  about  3  miles  north- 
east of  Macomb  the  clay  is  stripped,  loaded  by  steam  shovel,  and  hauled 
over  a  standard  gauge  track  to  the  plant  at  Macomb.  Samples  No.  73a, 
No.  73b,  and  No.  73c  are  respectively  from  the  top,  middle  and  bottom  of 
a  boring  on  the  Company's  property.  Results  of  tests  are  given  on  pages 
373  and  374.    A  section  of  the  face  of  the  pit  is  as  follows : 

Section  of  the  face  of  the  pit  of  the  Macomb  Sewer  Pipe  Works, 
3  miles  northeast  of  Macomb 

Thickness 
Feet 

6.  Loess,  drift,  and   soil    20  to  25 

5.  Sandstone,  hard,  and  chert  6 

4.  Coal  traces   

3.  Clay,  used  for  sewer  pipe   10 

2.  Pebbles  and  iron  concretions  in  layer   

1.     Shale,   dark   blue    10-f 

The  Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Company  uses  the  clay  from  this  horizon 
at  its  plant  near  Colchester  in  the  manufacture  of  refractory  brick,  tile,  and 
silo  blocks.  The  clay  is  dug  from  an  open  pit  in  the  side  of  a  hollow  (fig. 
54)  and  hauled  by  wagon  to  the  mill. 

Section  of  Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Company's  pit,  half  a  mile 
north   of   Colchester 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

7.  Shale,  sandy  20 

6.  Shale,  dark,  and  coal    2 

5.  Fireclay,  poor  grade   3 

4.  Shale,  dark   6 

3.  Fireclay,  stained  yellow  by  iron  (Sample  No.  75a) 6 

2.     Shale  7 

1.     Fireclay  (Sample  No.  75b)   10 

Sample  No.  75a  is  from  No.  3,  and  sample  No.  75b  from  No.  1  of  the 
above  section.    Results  of  tests  are  given  on  pages  374  to  376. 

Most  of  the  clay  obtained  about  Colchester  is  taken  from  mines  we^t 
of  town.  The  clay  taken  from  the  shaft  of  the  Gates  Fireclay  Company  is 
used  for  making  flue  linings  among  other  clay  products. 

Log  of  shaft  at  the  Gates  Fireclay  Company's  mine,  near  Colchester 

Thickness  Depth 

Description  of  strata                                 Feet  Feet 

Soil  and  glacial  clay 24  24 

"Soapstone,"  compact  shale   26  50 

Coal  (No.  2) iy2  S2Y2 

Fireclay,  used  in  the  manufacture  of  flue  linings,  etc.,  "upper  vein" 

(  Sample  No.  £8,  see  pages  376-377) Sl/2  ^ 


372  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Log  of  Gates  Fireclay  Company's  mine  shaft — Continued 

Limestone,  scattered  boulders   

"Hard  rock,"  probably  sandstone  6  64 

Clay,  "middle  vein"    8  72 

Sandstone 5  77 

Shale  8  85 

The  firm  of  Baird  Brothers  is  operating  a  mine  one  mile  northwest  of 
Colchester  in  a  7-  to  8-foot  bed  of  clay  that  lies  below  the  "middle  vein" 
of  the  Gates  shaft.  On  the  Valentine  farm  three  drift  tunnels  have  been 
opened  into  a  7-  to  8-foot  bed  of  clay,  and  about  150  tons  are  taken  out 


Fig.  54.     View  of  the  Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Company's  pit  half  a  mile  north  of  Col- 
chester showing  No.  2  coal  near  the  top  and  stoneware  clay  at  the  base. 


per  day.  One  hundred  and  twenty  acres  of  the  adjoining  Forncuff  farm  are 
underlain  by  the  lower  and  upper  clay.  The  middle  clay  contains  so  many 
boulders  that  it  cannot  be  worked  profitably.  The  clay  is  hauled  by  steam 
locomotive  over  a  tram  to  tipple  at  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy 
Railroad  at  Colchester. 

Sample  No.  74  (p.  377)  is  from  south  mine,  and  sample  No.  78  (p. 
378)  from  the  north  mine  on  the  Valentine  farm.  Sample  No.  75  (p.  379) 
was  taken  from  a  carload  of  clay  as  it  came  from  the  Meyers  mine,  west 
of  the  Baird  mines. 

Two  other  mines  were  being  operated  in  June,  1918;  one  3  miles  west 
of  town  in  the  same  bed  as  are  the  above  mines,  another  2J/2  miles  west 
where  the  No.  2  coal  and  the  underlying  clay  are  both  recovered. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      MC    DONOUGH    COUNTY 


373 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

1 

16 

5 

10 

9 

4.8 

15 

2.1 

Fusion  test : — Cone 

RESULTS    OF    TESTS 
MCDONOUGH  COUNTY 

Sample  No.  73-a 
(Macomb  Sewer  Pipe  Works ;    3  miles  northeast  of  Macomb) 
The  sample  is  a  gray  shaly  material,  containing  many  mica  flakes.     It  becomes 
very   plastic  when  worked  with  water. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    28.3 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     12.9 

Pore  water  per  cent     15.4 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  352.2 

Slaking   test,   average min.     13 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear  ;   dry  length 6.5 

Volume   ! ; 22.9 

Burning  test: — 

Total 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream    10.6 

Cream   12.4 

Light  gray   13.1 

Light  gray 10.0 

Cone  slightly  deformed  at  cone  26.     Vesicular  at  cone  27. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and  the 
total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  It  has  a  low  porosity  at  cone  9  and  has 
only  a  slight  porosity  at  cone  15.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :     Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  face  brick. 

Sample  No.  73-b 
(Macomb  Sewer  Pipe  Works ;    3  miles  northeast  of  Macomb) 
This  is  a  rather  hard  clay,  varying  in  color  from  a  light  to  a  dark  gray.     When 
tempered  with  water  it  becomes  very  plastic  and  flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    24.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     1 1.9 

Pore  water  per  cent     13.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  356.5 

Slaking  test,  average min.      9 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    6.2 

Volume    21.8 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Light  brown   13.7  Poorly  oxidized 

Brown  14.0  

Dark  brown 12.5  

Dark  gray   11.2  Overburned,  beginning 

to  bloat 


!one 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

1 

10.9 

5 

5.1 

9 

0.4 

5 

0.0 

374 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Fusion  test : — At  cone  26  the  cone  was  deformed  half  way  and  showed  many  bubbles 
on  the  surface. 

Summary 

The  strength  is  medium.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  Burning  shrinkage 
at  cone  9  is  medium.  It  burns  to  a  dense  body  at  cone  5  and  is  practically  non- 
porous  at  cone  9.     At  cone  15,  signs  of  overburning  appear.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses :     Sewer  pipe,  face  brick,  possibly  paving  brick. 

Sample  No.  73-c 
(Macomb  Sewer  Pipe  Works ;    3  miles  northeast  of  Macomb) 
This   is   a  hard   dark  gray-colored,  clay  which   develops   a  very  good  plasticity. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    26.8 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     10.5 

Pore  water  per  cent     16.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  339.3 

Slaking  test,  average    min.      9 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    7.0 

Volume    16.8 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

1  11.2  Cream  12.5  

5  4.0  Cream  14.4 


15 


Fusion  test  :- 


0.2 


0.8 


Gray 
Gray 


Conchoidal   vitreous 

fracture 
14.4  Conchoidal   vitreous 

fracture 
11.2  Conchoidal   vitreous 

fracture 


deformed  at  cone  27.    Vesicular. 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and  the 
total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  It  attains  a  low  porosity  at  cone  5  and  is 
completely  vitrified  between  that  and  cone  9.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  face  brick,  sanitary  ware, 
and  some  types  of  refractories. 

Sample  No.  75-a 

(Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Company's  pit;     */*  mile  north  of  Colchester) 

This  is  a  clay  which  is  not  of  a  uniform  color,  varying  from  gray  to  yellowish 

brown.     The   gray   portions   are   harder   than   the   yellow.     Tempered   with   water,   it 

develops  a  medium  plasticity.     When  squeezed  through  a  die,  it  flows  rather  badly. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    25 

Shrinkage  water per  cent      7.6 

Pore  water  per  cent     17.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  269.6 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  192 

Slaking  test,  average min.      4 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      MC   DOXOUGH    COUNTY 


375 


Screen  test : — 
Mesh 


40. 

60. 

80. 

120. 

200. 


Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

0.2  White  and  colored  sand 

1.4  White  and  colored  sand 

0.3  White  and  colored  sand 

3.3  White  and  colored  sand 

and  mica 

3.7  White  and  colored  sand 

and  mica 
Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   4.7 

Linear ;    wet  length   4.5 

Volume   11.2 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Light  red   1.0  

Light  red  1.7  

Dark  tan    4.4 

Brown 8.2 


04 
02 

5 

9 

13 

Fusion  test 


Porosity 
Per  cent 

33 

30 

23.3 

13.5 

16.9  

It  fused  completely  at  cone  26. 


Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Overburned 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength,  a  medium  low  bonding  strength,  a  medium 
low  drying  shrinkage,  and  a  medium  high  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9.  Minimum 
porosity — 13.5% — is  attained  at  cone  9  and  overburning  appears  at  cone  13.  It  is  a 
non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :     Brick,  tile. 

Sample  No.  75-b 
(Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Company's  pit;    J^  mile  north  of  Colchester) 

This  is  a  hard  gray-colored  clay,  having  an  irregular  fracture.  When  tempered 
with  water,  it  develops  a  good  plasticity  and  flows  well  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    20.0 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      8.6 

Pore  water  per  cent     11.4 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  263 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  199.6 

Slaking  test,  average   tnin.      8 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

20 0.3  Rock  particles 

40 0.9  Rock  particles  and  quartz  sand 

60 2.1  Rock  particles  and  quartz  sand 

80 0.3  Rock  particles  and  quartz  sand 

120 1.4  Quartz  sand  and  mica 

200 2.2  Quartz  sand  and  mica 


376  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    4.8 

Volume    16.5 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 


04 

30 

02 

28 

2 

25.5 

5 

25.0 

9 

17.4 

13 


14 


6.3 


6.8 


White    0.1 

Cream   0.5 

Cream   1.7 

Cream   2.0 

Gray   white    3.0 

Stoneware  gray   5.2 


Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
A  very   few  fine  iron 

spots 
Many  slagged  iron 

spots 


Buff 


2.7 


Fusion  test : — Completely  deformed  at  cone  26.     Not  fused  as  much  as  75-a. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium.  The 
drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low  and  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  The 
porosity  is  low  at  cone  14  but  vitrification  is  incomplete.     It  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :      Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  face  brick. 


Sample  No.  88 

(Gates  Fireclay  Company's  mine,  near  Colchester) 

This  is  a  dark  colored,  very  hard  clay,  which  becomes  very  plastic  when  tem- 
pered with  water. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    27.7 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     1 1.7 

Pore  water per  cent     15.9 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  496 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  243 

Slaking  test,  average    win.     14 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 None      

40 Traces     

60 0.29         Dark  red  grains 

80 0.2  

120 2.8  

200 1 .0  

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length  7.2 

Linear ;    wet  length  6.7 

Volume    28 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      MC    DOXOUGH    COUNTY  2)77 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Tan    7.7  Vitreous  fracture 

Darker  tan 7.6  Vitreous  fracture 

Grayish  tan  7.3  Vitreous  fracture 

Grayish  tan 6.9  Vitreous  fracture 

Dark  gray   6.9  Vitreous  fracture 

Stoneware  gray   7.3  Numerous    fine  iron 

spots ;  vitreous  frac- 
ture 

12  4.4  Bluestoned,  surface  flashed 4.0  Numerous    fine  iron 

spots ;  vitreous  frac- 
ture 

13  2.2  Buff  exterior 2.6  Many  fine  iron  spots ; 


Burning 

test : — 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

01 

0.8 

2 

0.6 

3 

0.5 

4 

0.7 

6 

0.8 

9 

2.6 

blue  core 


Fusion  test: — Partly  deformed  at  cone  27. 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium  and  its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  amount  of  residue  on  the  sieve  is  low.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and 
the  total  shrinkage  when  burned  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  It  is  practically  non- 
porous  at  cone  01  which  is  an  unusually  low  temperature  and  shows  distinct  over- 
burning  at  cone  13.  The  sample  burned  at  that  temperature  appears  to  be  reduced. 
It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  refractories  (particularly 
when  good  bonding  properties  are  required),  sanitary  ware,  face  brick. 

Sample  No.  74 
(Valentine  farm,  south  mine;    near  Colchester) 
This  is  a  dark  gray  colored  clay  which  becomes  very  plastic  upon  the  addition 
of  water. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    22.0 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      8.0 

Pore  water  per  cent     14.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  221.8 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  214.9 

Screen  test : — 

The  sample  would  not  slake  satisfactorily  for  this  test. 

Slaking  test,  average min.     8 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear  ;    dry  length ., 4.8 

Linear ;    wet  length 4.6 

Volume    15.0 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

1  21  Cream   2.2 

2  20  Cream  2.3  


378                                                     YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

3  20  Cream   2.3 

6  17.9  Slightly   darker    3.2 

9  13.4  Cream  3.5 

12  9.0  Cream   4.0 

13  4.1  Buff  4.4 

15  3.9  Bluestoned ;    buff  exterior   4.3 

Fusion  test: — Cone  half  way  down  at  cone  26. 


Fine  iron  speck 
Fine  iron  speck 
Fine  iron  speck 
Numerous    quartz 

grains  ;  fine  iron  spots 
Iron    spots,  small ; 

slagged 
Slagged  iron  spots 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  medium  bonding  strength.  Drying  shrink- 
age is  medium  low  and  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Weathering  or  aging  will  improve  its  working  properties. 

Suggested  uses :  Face  brick,  stoneware,  and  terra  cotta.  But  its  slow  slaking 
character  as  noted  under  the  screen  test  may  limit  its  usefulness  for  the  latter  pur- 
poses. 

Sample  No.  78 
(Valentine  farm,  north  mine;    near  Colchester) 
This  is  a  hard  dark  gray  colored  clay  which  may  be  brought  to  a  very  plastic 
condition.     Its  conduct  when  flowing  through  a  die  is  very  good. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     19. 

Shrinkage  water per  cent      9.4 

Pore  water  per  cent      9.6 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  325.8 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  209 .4 

Slaking  test,  average    win.       7 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 


Character  of  residue 


20 

.    0.8 

40 

...    0.7 

60 

0.7 

80 

0.22 

120 

0.75 

200 

0.7 

ing  shrinkage  : — 

Hard  clay  and  rock  particles 

Hard  clay  and  rock  particles,  also  pyrite 

Hard  clay  and  rock  particles,  also  pyrite 

Hard  clay  and  rock  particles,  also  pyrite 

Hard  clay  and  sand 

Hard  clay  and  sand 


Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   4.1 

Linear ;    wet  length 4.0 

Volume 16.9 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream  white  2.8 

Cream  white  2.6 

Cream  white  3.3 

Cream  white  4.0 

Cream   


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

01 

23 

1 

23 

3 

20 

6 

18 

8 

18 

Remarks 

Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      MC   DONOUGH    COUNTY  379 

9  14.9  Cream  4.0  

12  9.0  Dark  cream  or  light  tan 5.2  Earthy  fracture.     Nu- 

merous fine  iron 
specks.  Also  quartz 
grains. 

15  6.5  Buff  exterior;    bluestoned 7.2  Numerous   iron   spots. 

Slagged. 
Fusion  test : — No  deformation  at  cone  25.    It  deforms  at  cone  29. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  A 
low  porosity  is  not  reached  until  cone  15.    It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware,  sanitary  ware,  refractories, 
and  face  brick. 

Sample  No.  75 
(Meyers  mine;    near  Colchester) 
This  is  a  very  hard  dark  gray  clay  which  slakes  very  slowly.     However,  when 
properly   worked    with    sufficient   water,   it   develops   a    fair   degree   of   plasticity   and 
may  be  forced  through  a  die  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    20.7 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      9.1 

Pore  water  per  cent     11.6 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  295.6 

Slaking  test,  average min.      8 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   4.9 

Linear  ;    wet  length 4.7 

Volume    17.6 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

02  20  Cream  2.8  

2  17.3  Cream  4.7  

5  13.8  Cream  8.3  

9  6.8  Cream 11.0  Fine  iron  spots 

12  2.5  Gray  white 11.5  Fine  iron  spots 

13  1.5  Grayish  white  10.5  Numerous    iron   spots, 

small 

15  4.0  Grayish  white  Numerous  iron  spots ; 

slagged 
Fusion  test : — No  deformation  at  cone  30.     No  vesicular  structure. 

Note : — The  iron  ( ?)  spots  are  so  black  as  to  suggest  the  presence  of  manganese. 
Its  unusual  appearance  may  be  due  to  reduction.  The  effect  at  higher  cones  is  very 
unique  and  interesting. 

Summary 
The  clay  has  a  medium  strength.     The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.     Total 
shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.     Minimum   porosity.     Complete  vitrification   is 


380  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

reached  at  cone  13.     At  cone  15  the  slight  increase  in  porosity  may  indicate  incipient 
overburning.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  The  appearance  of  numerous  fine  slagged  spots  at  the  high 
temperatures  raises  a  question  as  to  the  desirability  of  this  as  a  material  for  re- 
fractories. Its  slow  slaking  character  lessens  its  value  in  some  degree  for  stoneware 
and  architectural  terra  cotta.  However,  weathering  or  aging  will  correct  these 
difficulties. 

FULTON    COUNTY 

A  sample  of  clay  (No.  84)  from  about  a  mile  northwest  of  Avon  was 
taken  at  the  Avon  Milling  and  Manufacturing  Company's  plant  at  Avon. 
The  clay  had  been  dug  from  the  bed  of  Swan  Creek  and  is  used  for  refrac- 
tory linings  about  the  boiler. 

RESULTS   OF  TESTS 
FULTON    COUNTY 

Sample  No.  84 
(Avon  Milling  and  Manufacturing  Company,  at  Avon.) 
The  clay  is  a  dark  gray  color  with  darker  patches  due  to  the  presence  of  car- 
bonaceous  matter.      Its  plasticity   is   only    fair   and    its  conduct   in   flowing   through   a 
die  is  fair. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    21.5 

Shrinkage  water    per  cent      9.0 

Pore  water per  cent     12.4 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  214 

Slaking  test,  average mm.     4^4 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

40 0.5  Sand  and  coal 

60 3.2  Sand  and  coal 

80 0.4  Sand  and  coal 

120 2.3  Sand  and  coal 

200 1 1 .6  White  sand,  mica,  and 

coal 
Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;  wet  length   3.7 

Linear  ;  dry  length 3.8 

Volume    17 

Burning  test  :— 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity         Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

2  26  Light  tan  1.8  Granular  fracture 

3  26  Light  tan   1.9  Granular  fracture 

6  25  Light  tan  2.6  Granular  fracture 

9  20  Light  tan  3.7  Granular  fracture 

13  11.6  Buff 5.5  Fine  iron   (?)   spots 

15  16.6  Buff 5.8  Fine  iron  (?)   spots 

Fusion  test : — The  cone  fused  to  a  glass  at  cone  28. 


ILLINOIS   FIRE   CLAYS:      FULTON   AND    MERCER   COUNTIES  381 

Summary 
The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium.     There  is  a  considerable  amount  of  residue 
left  on  the  screens.     The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low,  and  when  burned  at  cone 
9,  the  total  shrinkage  is  medium  low.     Vitrification  is  incomplete  at  cone  13  and  it  is 
overburned  at  cone  15.     It  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Architectural  terra  cotta,  face  brick.  It  appears  to  be  rather 
short  for  stoneware. 

MERCER    COUNTY 

The  Northwestern  Clay  Manufacturing  Company  formerly  recovered 
small  amounts  of  clay  with  the  No.  1  coal  at  their  pits  near  Griffin.  A 
sample  was  taken  from  clay  which  had  been  drawn  from  below  the  No.  1 
coal  at  that  time.    The  shale,  till,  and  overlying  soil  are  used  for  sewer  pipe. 

Section  of  the  Northzuestern  Clay  Manufacturing  Company's  pit  at  Griffin 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

6.     Soil  and  yellow  clay   10 

5.     Shale    (Sample   No.   86)    25  to  30     .. 

4.     Limestone    -      2 

3.     "Potter's  clay,"  thin  horizon   unmeasured 

2.     Coal    (No.   1)    2  5 

1.     Clay   (Sample  No.  85)    6 

RESULTS   OF  TESTS 
MERCER   COUNTY 

Sample  No.  86 
(Northwestern  Clay  Manufacturing  Company's   pit,  at  Griffin) 
The   material   is   a   hard   grayish-colored,    shaly   clay,    streaked   with   brown   and 
black.     The  plasticity  is  fair. 

Water   of   plasticity    per  cen  t     29.5 

Shrinkage  water    per  cent    21.9 

Pore  water    per  cent      7.6 

Modulus   of   rupture    lbs.  per  sq.  in.  190.2 

Slaking  test,  average  min.      6 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

10 2.2] 

14 1.7  | 

20 2.4| 

35 3.2\-     Particles  of  shale,  grains 

48 0.6  |         of  coal 

65 0.4| 

100 : l.lj 

150 1 .0  Shale  with  mica 

200 1 .5  Shale  with  mica 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length    3.62 

Linear  ;    wet   length 3.5 


382 


YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 


Burning 
Cone 

test:— 

Porosity 
Per  cent 

Color 

Burning 
shrinkage 
Per  cent 

Remarks 

02 

18.4 

Dark  red   . 

5.0 

Hackly  fracture 

5 

14.5 
0.5 

Dark  red   . 
Dark  red    . 

8.5 

9.4 

9 

Vitreous  fracture 

12 

Bloated 

Fusion  test: — It  fused  completel 

y  at 

cone 

27. 

Summary 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.     The  strength  is  medium  low.     The  total 
shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.     The  shale  reaches  a  minimum  porosity  at  or 
before  cone  9  and   overburns  beyond   that   point. 
Suggested  uses  :     Sewer  pipe,  brick,  tile,  etc. 

Sample  No.  85 
(Northwestern   Clay  Manufacturing  Company's   pit,   at   Griffin) 
The  sample  is  a  soft  clay  of  a  gray  color  with  darker  mottling.     Its  plasticity 
is  very  good  when  tempered  with  water. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    28.8 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     11.9 

Pore  water per  cent     17.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  386.7 

Slaking  test,  average    min.     Al/2 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 
7.0 


10. 

14. 

20. 

35. 

48. 

65. 
100. 
150. 
200. 


6.5 

8.9 

13.8 

3.7 

5.4 
3.9 
2.4 
2.6 


Particles 
shale 


of    coal    and 


Particles  of  coal  and 
shale,  with  flakes  of 
mica 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear    per  cent    6.5 

Volume per  cent  21 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream   13.4  

Cream   14.6 

Gray    15.9 

Dark  gray   16.2 

Dark  gray    13.6 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

14.4 

1 

6.7 

3 

0.5 

5 

0.8 

7 

1.2 

1.4 


Dark  gray   11.1 

Dark  gray   7.5 

Fusion  test: — Completely  deformed  at  cone  26.    Vesicular. 


13 


1.6 


Vitrified 

Bluestoned 

Bluestoned 

vesicular 
Bluestoned 

vesicular 
Bluestoned 

vesicular 


slightly 
slightly 
slightly 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:       ROCK    ISLAND    COUNTY  383 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium.  The  quantity  of  screen  residues  is  high. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  5  is  medium  high. 
Complete  vitrification  is  attained  at  a  very  low  cone  and  the  incipient  overburning 
which  seems  to  appear  at  cone  9  does  not  become  serious  even  at  cone  16.  The 
appearance  of  the  pieces  suggests  reducing  conditions  during  the  burn.  The  appear- 
ance of  a  whitewash  on  the  pieces  burned  at  cone  7  or  lower  should  be  noted.  It 
is  non-refractory. 

Possible  uses  :  Architectural  terra  cotta,  paving  brick,  stoneware,  sanitary  ware, 
sewerpipe,  conduits. 

ROCK  ISLAND  COUNTY 

A  sample  was  taken  from  the  clay  above  No.  1  coal  at  Sears  (sample 
No.  83).  The  clay  below  that  coal  was  covered  by  water  when  visited.  A 
second  sample  was  taken  from  white  clay  lying  directly  below  the  No.  1 
coal  (sample  No.  81)  ;  ordinarily  a  5-foot  sandstone  commonly  separates 
this  clay  and  the  coal  but  here  it  is  missing.  The  clay1  is  full  of  pyrite 
concretions  which  weather  to  limonite  at  the  surface.  The  plant  which 
formerly  operated  here  is  now  idle  and  the  pits  are  in  bad  condition. 

Results  of  tests  on  samples  No.  83  and  No.  81  are  given  on  pages 
383  and  384, 

A  large  part  of  the  upper  40  feet  of  the  overburden  which  is  a  fine 
loess  of  pure  quartz  sand  is  now  used  for  moulding  sand.  The  value  of 
the  overburden  in  this  case  would  materially  reduce  the  cost  of  obtaining 
the  clay  if  it  were  to  be  worked  from  an  open  cut.  The  maximum  over- 
burden would  be  nearly  60  feet. 

At  Carbon  Cliff  the  fine  clay  (Cheltenham)  varies  from  10  to  25  feet 
in  thickness,  being  replaced  where  the  lesser  thickness  is  found  by  as  much 
as  10  feet  of  black  shale  which  apparently  wedges  out  laterally  into  the  clay. 
The  clay  shows  iron  stains  and  traces  of  red.  At  its  base  there  is  a  layer 
of  nodular  impure  limestone  boulders  and  limonite  concretions.  The  over- 
burden of  18  to  25  feet  could  be  removed  most  economically,  it  is  believed, 
by  a  steam  shovel. 

Sample  No.  79  was  taken  from  the  west  bank  and  sample  No.  80  from 
the  working  face  in  the  east  pit.     Results  of  tests  are  on  page  385. 

RESULTS  OF  TESTS 
ROCK   ISLAND  COUNTY 

Sample  No.  83 
(Clay  above  No.  1  coal  at  Sears) 
This  is  a  medium  hard  clay  which  is  colored  gray,  heavily  mottled  with  brown. 
The  plasticity  is  very  good  when  it  is  tempered  with  water  and  it  flows  satisfactorily 
through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent     28.7 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent     16.4 

Pore  water  per  cent     12.2 

iAccording  to  Lines,  Op.  cit.,  this  clay  was  formerly  used  for  sewer  pipe. 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

04 

28.0 

02 

15.0 

2 

1.1 

5 

2.2 

9 

1.6 

384  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Modulus  of  rupture,  maximum lbs.  per  sq.  in.  768 

minimum lbs.  per  sq.  in.  664 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  329 

Slaking  test,  average    min.    W/2 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   7.5 

Linear ;    wet  length   7.0 

Volume    31.2 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Pinkish  red   1.0  

Pinkish  tan   5.1  Hackly  fracture 

6.7  Hackly  fracture 

Dark  tan   6.8  Glossy  fracture 

Dark  tan    6.5  Smooth  vitreous   frac- 

ture 

13  12.0  Gray 4.5  Overburned 

Fusion  test : — It  entirely  fused  at  cone  27. 

Summary 
The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  high  and  its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  Vitrifi- 
cation proceeds  very  rapidly  between  cones  02  and  2,  at  which  temperature  it  is 
practically  complete.  It  is  overburned  between  cones  9  and  13.  It  is  non-refractory. 
Suggested  uses :  Face  brick,  paving  brick,  sewer  pipe,  drain  tile.  The  color  of 
the  burned  material  is  rather  dark  for  stoneware  or  terra  cotta. 

Sample  No.  81 
(Clay  below  No.  1  coal  at  Sears) 
This   is   a   soft  gray   colored   clay,    streaked   with   brown   and   containing   a    few 
black   spots.     It  contains   much   mica. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    22.6 

Shrinkage  water per  cent      9.8 

Pore  water per  cent     12.7 

Slaking  test,  average min.      8 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    5.2 

Volume 17.8 

Burning  test: — 

Total 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Percent  Percent 

1  13.7  Brown  8.7  

5  6.1  Dark  brown 11.8  

9  2.4  Dark  brown 11.2  

15  Bloated  badly 

Fusion  test : — Completely  fused  at  cone  26  to  brown  glass  showing  a  partly  vesicular 

structure.  _ 

Summary 

The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low  and  vitrification  is  practically  complete  at 

cone  9.     It  is  overburned  between  that  cone  and  cone  15.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :     Brick,  tile. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      ROCK   ISLAND    COUNTY 


385 


Sample  No.  79 
(West  bank  at  Carbon  Cliff) 

This  is  a  soft  clay  having  a  dark  gray  color  with  some  brown  streaks.     When 
tempered  with  water  it  becomes  very  plastic.     It  flows  fairly  well  through  a  die. 

Water   of   plasticity    per  cent    21.7 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent      8.9 

Pore  water    per  cent     12.5 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  287.3 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture   lbs.  per  sq.  in.  119.5 

Slaking  test,  average    min.      4 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character   of 

Per  cent  residue 


Trace 
Trace 
Trace 
Trace 
Trace 
1.8 


Sand  and  mica 


20 

40 

60 

80 

120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear :    dry  length    6.6 

Linear ;  wet  length  6.2 

Volume 17.4 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream 0.0 

Cream   1.0 

Cream   1.5 

Cream  2.0 

Cream  3.1 

Cream    3.6 

Brown    exterior ;    bluestoned.  ...     2.8  .... 

Fusion  test : — It  fuses  entirely  at  cone  26.     No  vesicular  structure. 


lone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

04 

32 

02 

32 

2 

28 

5 

28 

9 

23 

13 

18 

14 

6 

Remarks 


Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 
Granular  fracture 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The 
drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and  the  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  The  clay 
is  very  open  burning  until  cone  14  is  reached.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses :  Architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware,  sanitary  ware,  and  face 
brick. 

Sample  No.  80 

(East  pit  at  Carbon  Cliff) 

This  is  a  clay  of  a  medium  degree  of  hardness,  colored  gray  with  a  darker 
mottling.  It  develops  a  good  degree  of  plasticity  when  tempered  with  water  and 
flows  satisfactorily  through  a  die. 


386 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 


Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    20.5 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      9.2 

Pore  water  per  cent     11.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  445.4 


Slaking  test,  average min. 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear   pCr  cent 

Volume    per   cent 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream   7.2 

Cream  7.5 

Cream  8.1 


10H 

6.2 

17.7 


Cone 


02 

1 
3 
5 


13 


Porosity 
Per  cent 

20.7 

19.7 

16.4 

13.4 

10.4 
7.2 

7.5 


Remarks 


Gray 
Gray 
Gray 

Gray 


8.6 

10.0 

9.8 

9.7 


Hackly  fracture 
Hackly  fracture 

Vitrified ;   hackly  frac- 
ture 
Conchoidal    fracture 


Fusion  test : — Test  pieces  are  2/z  deformed  at  cone  26  and  slightly  vesicular. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  high  strength  and  medium  shrinkage  at  cone  9.  The 
total  shrinkage  is  medium.  Vitrification  is  still  incomplete  at  cone  13.  The  clay 
Dorders  on  the  refractory  type. 

Suggested   uses :     Stoneware,   architectural   terra  cotta,   refractories,    face  brick. 

LA  SALLE   COUNTY 

At  the  pits  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company  two  miles  south 
of  Utica  the  section  is  variable,  but  a  somewhat  generalized  section  of  the 
east  pit  (fig.  55)  is  as  follows: 


Sections  of  the  east  pits  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company 
2  miles  south  of  Utica 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

Overburden,  glacial  drift  and  soil 12 

Coal  (No.  1)   1  6 

Clay,  blue,  "Joliet  clay"  (Sample  No.  87,  p.  393)  ;  the  upper  foot 
contains   numerous   pyrite   concretions,   and   similar   concretions 

are  found  in  the  lower  Ibeds 3  6 

Clay,  green   8 

Clay,  gray,  jointed  (Sample  No.  77,  p.  394)  ;  used  for  fire  brick;  the 
upper  3  feet  has  a  few  small  pyrite  seams  and  concretions 
(av.  8  ft.)  ;    at  one  place  2  feet  of  the  residual  basal  clay  is 

lighter  in  color  grading  into  a  darker  clay  above 4  10 

Sandstone,  St.  Peter ;  forms  the  "nigger  heads"  of  the  mines ;  the 
surface  of  the  sandstone  is  very  uneven  and  in  one  place  rises 
so  that  the  clay  is  only  \y2  feet  thick 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      LA    SALLE    COUNTY  337 

A  second  section  of  East  pit  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company 

Thickness 
Feet 

3.     Soil  and  drift 2  to  5 

2.     Clay,  dark  gray  with  scattered  pebbles  and  some  conglomerate 10± 

1.     Conglomerate,  highly  weathered,  heavy 

Sample  No.  82  from  the  east  pit  was  lost  in  transit,  and  H.  E.  Culver 
of  the  Survey  staff  visited  the  pit  later  with  the  intention  of  taking  a  sub- 


Fig.  55.     View  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company's  pit  south  of  Utica;    No.  2  coal 

overlies  the  clay. 

stitute  sample.  Being  unable  to  find  the  exact  location  from  which  sample 
No.  82  had  been  taken,  he  measured  the  following  section  and  took  sample 
No.  C  82;  results  of  tests  are  given  on  pages  126  and  127. 

Section  of  West  pit  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company, 
near  Utica 

4.     Overburden,  soil  and  drift 2  to  5 

3.     Clay,  gray,  yellow  when  first  exposed,  very  tough 2  to  3 

2.     Clay,  darker  yellow,  "putty  clay"   (Sample  No.  82) ;    chert  concre- 
tions and  pyrite  at  base  5  to  6 

1.     Sandstone ;    very  much  hardened  by  iron  at  surface 

The  clay  is  hauled  by  train  from  the  pit  to  a  tipple,  dumped  down  onto 
a  tram  at  river  level,  transferred  across  the  Illinois  River  by  barge  and  then 
taken  by  train  to  the  plant  at  Utica. 


388  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

About  20  acres  has  been  tested  by  drilling  beyond  the  borders  of  the 
present  pits. 

The  plant  can  produce  from  12,000  to  20,000  fire  brick  per  day  and 
about  30  tons  of  ground  fireclay  is  shipped  every  month  as  well  as  crude 
clay  in  varying  amounts  up  to  1000  tons.  Small  lots  of  the  yellow  "putty" 
clay  have  been  shipped  for  ochre  but  most  of  it  is  used  as  furnace  lining. 
A  boring  between  the  two  pits  has  shown  that  the  "putty"  clay  overlies  the 
better  grade  blue  clay. 

M.  J.  Gorman  and  Company  are  operating  an  open  pit  in  sec.  21,  T.  22 
N.,  R.  1  E.  The  clay  is  hauled  \y2  miles  by  team  and  wagon  to  Utica.  The 
average  production  is  about  10,000  tons  per  year,  including  both  "putty"  and 
blue  clay. 

Section  of  M.  J.  Gorman  and  Company's  pit  lJ/2  miles  south  of  Utica 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

9.     Soil  1 

8.     Soil  and  drift 6 

7.     Coal  (No.  2),  absent  over  parts  of  the  clay 3 

6.     Clay,  yellow  and  blue,  very  plastic,  scattered  gypsum  crystals ;  "putty 

clay"   (Sample  No.  97,  pp.  395-396) 4 

5.     Clay,  green  6 

4.     Clay,  blue  (Sample  No.  100,  pp.  396-397) 9 

3.     Pyrite,  large  boulders,  usually  with  calcareous  centers 

2.     Clay,  blue   5 

1.     Sandstone,  probably  St.  Peter 

Sample  No.  98  was  taken  from  the  side  of  a  gully  a  few  rods  up-stream 
from  the  mouth  of  the  clay  pit.  It  lies,  however,  below  the  mouth  of  the 
pit  in  altitude.  This  is  not  worked,  and  the  sample  was  taken  from  a 
2'x4'x  3"  cut  on  the  sloping  surface  of  the  clay  bank  which  lies  beneath 
soil  and  above  sandstone  which  is  probably  St.  Peter,  but  may  be  the  lower 
sandstone  of  the  Pennsylvanian.    See  page  397  for  results  of  tests. 

More  than  seventy  acres  of  clay  have  been  proved  by  boring. 

The  Company  is  contemplating  tractor  and  trailer  haulage  over  the  lj^ 
miles  of  paved  road  to  the  railroad  at  Utica. 

The  Illinois  Clay  Products  Company  are  producing  250  to  300  tons  of 
ground  fireclay  per  day,  from  their  mine  at  Deer  Park. 

Only  the  upper  6  or  7  feet  is  mined  at  the  present  time,  as  it  is  found 
impracticable  to  mine  a  greater  thickness. 


ILLINOIS    FIRE    CLAYS:      LA    SALLE    COUNTY  389 

Section  of  Illinois  Clay  Products  Company's  mine  at  Deer  Park 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

10.     Overburden,  of  glacial  till  and  soil unmeasured 

9.  "Soapstone,"  compact,  sandy  clay  shale 15± 

8.     Coal  (No.  2)  ;    forms  roof  of  mine 3  6 

7.  Clay  (Sample  No.  93,  p.  398)  ;  only  the  upper  6  to  7  feet  mined  at 
present ;  erratic  lenses  of  sandrock  at  the  bottom  of  the  present 
workings ;  pyrite  nodules  about  3  feet  from  the  top  of  the  clay, 
also  large  pisolitic  boulders ;  in  part  of  mine,  clay  rests  on  St. 
Peter  sandstone  and  possibly  in  other  part  on  "Trenton"  lime- 
stone     13 

Outside  the  mouth  of  the  mine  lower  beds  are  exposed  as  follows : 

6.     Sandstone,  thin  layer    3 

5.     Clay,  coal  and  coaly  shale  (No.  1  [?]) 6 

4.     Fireclay,   very  fine   textured,   plastic,   and   light  in   color    (Sample 

No.  96,  p.  399) 4 

3.  Fireclay,  sandy    2 

2.  Pyrite  bed,  less  than   2 

1.  Limestone,    Trenton    

The  clay  is  hauled  by  train  and  electric  motor  to  the  mill  and  after 
grinding  is  carried  by  cable  train  across  the  Big  Vermilion  River  to  the 
Rock  Island  Railroad. 

At  Lowell  the  clay  below  the  No.  2  coal  has  been  used  in  a  small  way 
for  pottery  at  the  Lowell  Stoneware  Company's  plant. 

Section  of  the  Lowell  Stoneware  Company's  pit  at  Lowell 

Thickness 
Feet 

4.  Overburden,  drift  and  soil    1  to  12 

3.  Coal  (No.  2)   3^ 

2.  Clay  (Sample  No.  90,  p.  400),    dark  gray  to  light  drab  "W"  clay;  the 

upper  three  feet  contains  much  pyrite  at  the  base  of  which  there 

are  locally  traces  of  green  coloring 12  to  25 

1.     Limestone,  Trenton   

Preliminary  drilling  is  said  to  have  proved  that  the  clay  underlies  at  least 
200  acres.  A  great  part  of  this  is  overlain  by  an  overburden  of  less  than 
15  feet  and  could  easily  be  removed  by  steam  shovel. 

Near  the  river  bank  small  quantities  of  clay  have  been  dug  from  directlv 
beneath  1  to  7  feet  of  soil  and  drift  overburden.  The  clay  here  is  distinctly 
bedded  and  of  a  gray  color  with  an  occasional  yellow  pocket.  It  is  sold  as 
the  "R"  clay  (sample  No.  89,  p.  400). 

The  Pennsylvanian  rocks  are  missing  on  the  east  flank  of  the  La  Salle 
anticline  at  Utica.  The  bluffs  of  Illinois  Valley  are  largely  St.  Peter  sand- 
stone from  Utica  to  Twin  Bluffs  on  the  south  side  of  Illinois  River.  At  Twin 
Bluffs  the  National  Fireproofmg  Company  is  working  clay  in  open  cut  from 
directly  above  the  St.  Peter  sandstone,  and  about  a  mile  to  the  east  the 


390  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

Herrick  Clay  Manufacturing  Company  is  tunneling  the  clay  (sample  No. 
95,  p.  401)  from  the  same  horizon.  A  section  of  the  face  of  the  former  pit 
is  given  here : 


S>J 


Section  of  National  Fireproofing  Company's  pit  at  Twin  Bluffs 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

5.  Overburden,   drift    unmeasured 

4.  Shale   ("Soapstone")    8 

3.  Coal  (No.  2)   1  11 

2     Shale,  black 6 

1.  Clay    (Sample   No.   94,   p.  402)  ;   lighter   in   color   and  more   sandy 

toward  the  bottom  7 

At  the  Herrick  mine  the  clay  is  8  feet  thick  and  because  of  the  east- 
ward dip  the  overlying  shale  has  increased  to  more  than  30  feet.  At  the 
National  Fireproofing  pit  the  drift  overburden  and  the  shale  are  used  for 
drain  tile  and  building  blocks.  The  coal  above  the  clay  is  also  recovered. 
At  both  plants  the  clays  are  ground  and  shipped.  The  output  from  the 
National  Fireproofing  plant  is  approximately  800  tons  per  week  and  a  similar 
or  somewhat  lesser  quantity  is  shipped  from  the  Herrick  mine. 

At  Ottawa  the  Fox  and  Illinois  rivers  have  cut  through  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian  and  are  now  flowing  on  St.  Peter  sandstone.  About  2  miles  east  of 
that  city  basal  Pennsylvanian  clay  is  dug  from  two  open  pits ;  that  of  the 
Chicago  Retort  and  Firebrick  Company  and  that  of  the  National  Fire- 
proofing Company. 

Section  of  the  National  Fireproofing  Company's  "Pioneer"  pit 
2  miles  east  of  Ottawa 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

10.  Soil  6 

9.  Shale  ("soapstone")   16 

8.  Coal    2  2 

7.  Fireclay,  dark   1 

6.  Fireclay,   lighter   gray    (Sample    No.   91,   p.   403)  ;    lenses    of    large 

rounded  pisolitic  boulders  which  contain  large  amounts  of  pyrite    8 

5.  Clay,  green,  in  lenses,  local 2 

4.  Sandstone,  hard,  brown   1  to  4 

3.  Clay,  very  light  in  color  (Sample  No.  92,  p.  404) 5  to  9 

2.  Clay,  sandy 1 

1.  Sandstone,  St.  Peter  

The  clay  is  dug  by  steam  shovel  and  hauled  by  electric  tram  to  the  plant 
at  Ottawa.  The  output  is  about  5000  tons  of  manufactured  ware  per  month, 
chiefly  hollow  ware  and  fire  brick,  and  1000  tons  of  ground  fireclay. 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY  391 

Section  of  the  Chicago  Retort  and  Firebrick  Company's  pit 
northeast  of  Ottazva 

Thickness 
Ft.        In 

8.     Soil   1 

7.  .  Shale,  blue,  weathers  light ;    "soapstone" 17 

6.     Shale,  darker ;   colored  by  carbon 2 

5.  Coal 2 

4.  Gypsum,  persistent  layer 1 

3.  Clay,  colored  by  carbon  2 

2.  Fireclay  (Sample  No.  101,  p.  404)  ;  traces  of  green  in  lower  beds 

where  clay  becomes  lighter  in  color;  large  rounded  sandy  pyritic 
boulders  in  bottom  of  pit;  smaller  pyrite  concretions  scattered  in 
the  clay  4  to  8 

1.  Sandstone,  St.  Peter  

This  section  differs  little  from  the  preceding  one,  except  that  instead 
of  the  lower  clay  it  has  the  green  clay  resting  directly  upon  the  St.  Peter 
sandstone.  A  large  area  of  this  clay  has  been  removed,  but  the  Company 
reports  holdings  of  300  acres  of  tested  reserve  clay  land  east  and  north  of 
the  present  pit.  No  use  is  made  of  the  overburden  which  is  removed  by 
steam  shovel  and  tram. 

Three  grades  of  clay  are  used:  (1)  Raw  clay  from  this  pit;  (2)  raw 
clay  blended  with  Missouri  flint  clay;  and  (3)  raw  clay  blended  with  a  mix- 
ture of  raw  and  calcined  Missouri  flint  clay. 

About  half  a  mile  southeast  of  Dayton,  clay  is  mined  from  a  tunnel 
driven  in  the  side  of  a  deep  ravine. 

Section  at  Dayton  Clay  Works  half  a  mile  south  of  Dayton 

Thickness 
Feet 

6.  Loam,  drift,  and  soil    6 

5.  Shale,  more  compact  toward  the  base 32 

4.  Shale,  dark  blue  1 

3.  Coal  (No.  2) 2  =±= 

2.  Clay,  sandy,  pyritic  gray  (Sample  Nc.  99,  p.  406) 4*/2  to  5J/2 

1.     Sandstone  . 

Sample  No.  102  (p.  406)  was  from  an  outcrop  of  the  gray  fireclay 
above. 

The  clay  is  ground  and  loaded  by  elevated  conveyor  onto  a  switch  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  and  Quincy  Railroad  about  100  yards  east  of  the 
plant. 

The  Chicago  Firebrick  Company  is  reopening  the  entries  of  the  old 
Spicer  Coal  Company's  mine  2  miles  east  of  Marseilles  with  the  intention 
of  obtaining  the  clay  which  here  is  at  a  depth  of  about  90  feet.  The  clay 
is  worked  from  a  new  face  at  the  outer  margin  of  the  former  mine  by  the 
room  and  pillar  system. 


392  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Section  of  Chicago  Firebrick  Company's  shaft  2  miles  east  of  Marseilles 

Thickness 
Feet 

Shaft  from  u»p  of  coal  to  surface 90  =*= 

4.     Coal  (No.  2)    iy% 

3.     Fireclay,  drab,  comparatively  free  from  pyrite  but  colored  by  carbon.  .Zl/2  to  6 

2.     Clay,  green ;    rich  in  pyrite   ^2  to  3 

1.  Fireclay;  pyrite  in  small  crystals  to  bottom  of  present  workings;  a 
maximum  of  12  feet  of  this  lower  clay  has  been  penetrated;  at 
the  shaft  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  is  8  feet  4  inches  below  the  bot- 
tom of  the  coal  5 

The  clay  is  shipped  as  ground  clay. 

Sample  No.  129  was  taken  from  the  working  face  omitting  the  green 
clay.     (See  page  408). 

South  and  east  from  Utica,  or  away  from  the  crest  of  the  La  Salle 
anticline,  the  base  of  the  Pennsylvanian  beds  lowers  and  in  only  a  few 
places  have  mine  shafts  penetrated  to  the  level  of  the  clay. 

Two  miles  south  of  Streator,  the  shaft  of  the  Streator  Clay  Manufac- 
turing Company  penetrates  the  No.  2  coal,  but  the  underlying  clay  is  not 
of  as  good  a  quality  as  that  farther  north. 


Section  of  Streator  Clay  Manufacturing  Company's  shaft 
2  miles  south  of  Streator 

Thickness 
Ft.        In. 

Shaft 230 

4.    Coal  (No.  2)  2  6 

3.     Fireclay,  gray  and  blue  (Sample  No.  130-a,  p.  408) IVs  to  4 

2.     Clay,  sandy,  "sandrock"   3  to  5 

1.     Clay,    greenish    gray;    "Intermediate    clay"    (Sample    No.    130-b, 

p.  408)   2  6 

Bottom  not  reached. 

At  Kangley  the  Spring  Lake  Coal  Company  is  mining  the  No.  2  coal. 
Clay  brought  out  in  lifts  from  digging  sumps  was  sampled  from  the  dump. 
Results  of  tests  on  the  sample  (No.  131)  are  given  on  page  408. 


Section  of  the  Spring  Lake  Coal  Company's  shaft  at  Kangley 
4  miles  northivest  of  Streator 

Thickness 
Feel 

Shaft    200 

2.     Coal  (No.  2)   3 

1.     Clay  (Sample  No.  131)  ;   bluish  and  greenish  gray  with  small  gypsum 

crystals  and  an  occasional  iron  stain 5 

Bottom  not  reached. 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY 


393 


RESULTS  OF  TESTS 
LA  SALLE  COUNTY 

Sample  No.  87 

(East  pit  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company; 

2  miles  south  of  Utica) 

This  clay  is  of  medium  hardness.     It  is  of  a  dark  gray  or  slate  color  speckled 

with  a  few  black  spots.     The  plasticity  is  very  high  when  it  is  tempered  with  water, 

and  its  conduct  when  flowing  through  a  die  is  good. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    25.6 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     17.0 

Pore  water  per  cent      8.6 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  497.6 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  290.3 

Slaking  test,  average  min.     10.5 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 None      

40 Trace      

60 0.4  Fine  white  sand 

80 0.2  Fine  white  sand 

120 0.7  Fine  white  sand 

200 0.9  Fine  white  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   9.3 

Linear ;    wet  length  8.5 

Volume 34.5 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Cream,  nearly  white 3.1  

Light  cream    4.2 

White  exterior 

Cream  5.1 


Cone 

Porositv 

Per  cent 

02 

17.0 

2 

12.3 

4 

10.7 

8 

8.4 

9  8.2  Cream  5.1 

12  4.7  Bluestoned ;    cream 5.8 

14  5.0  Dark  buff ;   bluestoned 5.6 


Fine  iron  spot 
Fine  iron  spot 
Numerous    fine  iron 

spots 
Numerous    fine  iron 

spots 
Numerous    fine  iron 

spots 
Numerous    fine  iron 

spots,  slagged 


Oxidation  conduct : — Appears  to  be  very  slow. 
Fusion  test : — Deforms  at  cone  28. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  raw  clay  is  medium  high  and  its  bonding  strength  is  high. 
The  amount  of  residue  on  the  sieves  is  slight.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  and 
the  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  Vitrification  is  incomplete  at  cone  14. 
Oxidation  appears  to  have  been  very  slow.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta.  sanitary  ware,  face  brick, 
refractories. 


394 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


o.ii 

0.2 
1.0 

1.8 
1.21 


Character  of 
residue 


Quartz  and  pyrite 


Sample  No.  77 
(East  pit  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company ;   2  miles  south  of  Utica) 

This  is  a  very  hard  dark  gray  colored  clay.    When  powdered  and  tempered  with 
water,  it  develops  a  fair  degree  of  plasticity  and  will  flow  through  a  die  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     19.8 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      9.3 

Pore  water  per  cent     10.5 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  320 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  261 

Slaking  tests,  average  min.      9 

Screen  test: — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 

20 

40 

60 

120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   7.5 

Linear ;    wet  length 7.0 

Volume 19.2 

Drying  conduct : — Efflorescence,  i.  e.,  "whitewash,"  appears  at  the  corners  of  the  sample. 
Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream   4.4 

Cream  4.8 

Darker  cream  5.4 

Grayish    5.5 

Grayish 5.1  

Bluestoned     4.3  

Tan,  light  bluestoned 

Buff  exterior ;    bluestoned,  black    3.6  Some  iron  spots 

V\  deformed  at  cone  28.     Vesicular  structure. 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

14.4 

3 

11.0 

6 

8.5 

8 

5.1 

9 

4.4 

12 

6.0 

12^ 

15 

5.0 

sion  test : — Cone 

Remarks 

Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 
Granular  fracture 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  bonding  strength.  The  drying 
shrinkage  is  medium  and  at  cone  9  the  total  shrinkage  is  medium  high.  The  clay 
attains  a  fairly  low  degree  of  porosity  at  cone  6  and  is  not  overburned  at  cone  15. 
It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware,  refractories, 
face  brick. 

Sample  No.  C82 
(West  pit  of  the  Utica  Firebrick  and  Clay  Company,  near  Utica) 
This  sample  was  a  mixture  of  a  light  colored  material,  which  was  very  hard, 
and  a  soft  yellow  mass.     When  tempered  with  water  it  developed  a  very  good  plas- 
ticity and  could  be  squeezed  through  a  die  satisfactorily. 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY 


395 


Water  of  plasticity per  cent  32 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent  16.9 

Pore  water per  cent  15.1 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  484.8 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  185.2 

Slaking  test,  average min.  9 

Screen  test : — 


Mesh 


10. 
14. 
20. 

35. 


Residue 
Per  cent 

.  7.8 
..  3.5 
..  3.5 
..    1.3 


Character  of  residue 

Sand,  colored  rock  fragments 

Sand,  colored  rock  fragments 

Sand,  colored  rock  fragments 

Sand,  colored  rock  fragments, 

Sand,  colored  rock  fragments, 

Sand,  colored  rock  fragments, 


and  coal 
and  coal 
and  coal 


48 Trace 

65 1.0 

100 Trace       

150 Trace       

200 Trace       

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    6.8 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

02  33.7  Reddish  cream  1.8  

1  3.9  Dark  gray   12.7 

3  2.2  Dark  gray  13.6 

5  1.0  Dark  brown 12.5 


Fusion  test : — Complete  fusion  at  cone  26. 
very  decided. 


Very  brittle 
Very  brittle 
Bloated.  Sample  heated 

above  this  cone  was 

melted. 
Cone  shows  vesicular  structure,  but  not 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  high.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium  low. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  Total  shrinkage  at  cone  5  is  medium  high.  It 
appears  bloated  as  though  overburned  at  cone  5.     The  clay  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses :     Common  brick  and  tile. 

Sample  No.  97 
(M.  J.  Gorman  and  Company's  pit;    1^  miles  south  of  Utica) 

The  following  tests  relate  to  the  sample  collected  by  Mr.  Culver. 

The  material  is  of  a  medium  hard  shaly  nature.  With  it  is  mixed  a  softer  por- 
tion. The  color  is  dark  gray  and  brown.  A  good  plasticity  may  be  developed.  When 
forced  through  a  die,  the  clay  flows  rather  badly. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent    35.6 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent    22.9 

Pore  water per  cent     12.5 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  565 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  201 

Slaking  test,  average min.    60 


396  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue 

Per  cent 

20 0.3 

40 17.3 

60 17.6 

80 6.0 

120 0.8 

150 1.8 

200 4.0 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   10.5 

Linear :    wet    length    9 

Drying  conduct : — Shows  tendency  to  warp. 
Burning  test: — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  30  Salmon   1.6 

06  27  Buff  2.2 

04  24  Cream  3.1 

02  23  Buff   4.0 

1  22  Buff  4.6 

2  16  Stoneware    5.4 

4  9.5  Gray    5.7 

7  5.6  Gray    5.2 

9  6.5  Gray 5.5 

10  4.4  Gray  with  brown  specks 5.3 

Fusion  test : — It  fused  at  cone  28. 

Summary 

The    strength   of   the   clay   is   medium   high.      Its   bonding   strength    is    medium. 
The  total   percentage   of   residue   on   the   screens   is   high.     The   drying   shrinkage   is 
medium   high   at   cone   9.     The   total    shrinkage   is   high.     The   vitrification   proceeds 
slowly  and  is  incomplete  at  cone  10.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 
Suggested   uses :     Refractories,    face   brick. 

Sample  No.  100 

(M.  J.  Gorman  and  Company's  pit;    \l/2  miles  south  of  Utica) 
Resampled  by  Mr.  Culver. 

The  clay  is  a  very  hard  gray  colored  material.     Its  conduct  when  forced  through 
a  die  is  good. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    24.6 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     13.8 

Pore  water  per  cent     10.8 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  475 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  222 

Slaking  test,  resample  min.    40 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY  397 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 0.2  Fragments  of  rock  and 

pyrites 

40 0.06        Sand  and  pyrites 

60 3.5  Sand,  particles  of  clay 

and  pyrites 

80 2.1       

120 14.1  Particles  of  clay 

150 3.4  Particles  of  clay 

200 6.5  Particles  of  clay 

The  sample  did  not  slake  completely. 
Drying  shrinkage  : — Linear  ;  wet  length per  cent     7.3 

Burning  test: — 

Burning- 
Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage 
Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  24  Light  gray   2.1 

06  23  Buff  and  cream 2.5 

04  20  Dark  cream  3.3 

02  18  Dark  cream 4.0 

1  16  Dark  cream   4.4 

3  12  Gray     5.0 

5  8  Gray  with  iron  speckles   5.5 

7  6  5.5 

9  6  5.5 

11  7  Brown   5.7 

Fusion  test: — It  deformed  at  cone  31. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  high.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium.  The 
amount  of  screen  residues  is  high.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total 
shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  Vitrification  is  incomplete  at  cone  11.  It  is  a 
refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  Refractories,  face  brick.  The  slow  slaking  properties  may 
limit  its  usefulness  for  terra  cotta,  stoneware,  and  sanitary  ware. 

Sample  No.  98 

(Side  of  gully  near  M.  J.  Gorman  and  Company's  pit,  near  Utica) 

This  report  relates  to  sample  obtained  by  Mr.  Culver. 

This  is  a  soft  clay,  yellow  in  color  and  marked  with  brown  spots.  When  tem- 
pered with  water,  it  has  good  plasticity. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    28 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     12.7 

Pore  water  per  cent     15.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  246 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  149 

Slaking  test,  average min.     65 


398  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

20 4.2  Chert  and  sandstone  fragments 

40 1.0  

60 2.8         

80 5.3  White  and  yellow  sand 

120 2.2  White  and  yellow  sand  with  some  mica 

150 2.00        White  and  yellow  sand  with  some  mica 

200 4.8  White  and  yellow  sand  with  some  mica 

Drying  shrinkage  :— Linear  ;  wet  length per  cent    62 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  36  Brownish  red    1.7 

06  34  Brownish  red    2.2 

04  32  Brownish  red    3.4 

02  31  Brownish  red 3.8 

1  30  Brownish  red    4.3 

3  28  Chocolate   5.0 

5  22  Bluish  black 6.2 

7  19  Bluish  black 6.8 

9  17  Bluish  black 7.6 

Fusion  test: — It  deforms  at  cone  29. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength,  a  medium  low  bonding  strength,  and  a  medium 
drying  shrinkage.  It  contains  a  considerable  percentage  residue  material  too  coarse 
to  pass  the  screen  test.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium  high.  The  clay  is 
quite  open  burning.  The  very  dark  color  of  the  samples  carried  to  cone  5  and  beyond 
suggests  the  possibility  of  reduction  during  burning.     It  is  refractory. 

Suggested  uses :  Face  brick.  The  dark  color  of  the  burned  clay  and  its  burning 
conduct  suggest  the  possibility  of  the  iron  content  being  abnormally  high  for  a  re- 
fractory material,  even  though  the  fusion  test  was  satisfactory. 

Sample  No.  93 

(Illinois  Clay  Products  Company's  mine  at  Deer  Park) 

This  is  a  dark  gray  colored  clay  which  is  a  semi-flint  in  its  character.    It  appears 

to  contain  a  notable  amount  of  pyrites. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    25 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     15.9 

Pore  water .per  cent      9.1 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  554.7 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  302.5 

Slaking  test,  average min.    10^2 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    wet  length   7.2 

Linear ;    dry  length    7.8 

Volume    32.6 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY 


399 


Burning 

test  :— 

Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

2 

72 

3 

3.3 

6 

3.0 

8 

2.2 

12 

11.8? 

13 

7.3 

15 


4.6 


Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Grayish  white 6.0 

Gray    6.3 

Gray    6.6 

Gray    5.5 

Bluestoned   2.6 

Buff;    slagged  spots;    blue  core.  3.2 

Dark   terra   cotta   flash   outside; 
gray  inside 4.0 


Remarks 

Nearly  vitreous 
Nearly    vitreous    frac- 
ture 
Nearly  vitreous 
Some  fine  iron  spots 

Buff  exterior,  blue  core, 
numerous  iron  spots 

Large  iron  spots  over- 
burned 


Fusion  test : — It  deformed  at  cone  29. 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  high  and  its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  8  is  medium  high. 
It  is  practically  non-porous  at  cone  8  and  is  slightly  overburned  at  cone  13.  It  is  a 
refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  Refractories,  especially  those  requiring  a  clay  having  a  good 
strength  and  burning  to  a  dense  structure.  Facebrick.  Its  slow  slaking  property 
when  mixed  with  water  is  rather  unfavorable  for  its  use  for  stoneware  and  terra  cotta. 

Sample  No.  96 

(Illinois  Clay  Products  Company's  mine  at  Deer  Park) 

The  sample  was  a  hard,  dark  gray  colored  material  of  medium  plasticity. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent     19 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     10 

Pore  water  per  cent      9 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  277 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  107.3 

Slaking  test,  average  raw.       7 

Screen  test : — Too  hard  to  slake. 
Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   5.8 

Linear ;    wet  length  5.5 

Volume    20.5 

Burning  test : — 

Burning- 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

White    3.9 

Light  cream 4.4 

Light  cream    

Light  cream    6 

Cream  6.1 

Bluestoned;   uniform  gray 7 

Bluestoned ;    uniform  gray 6.8 

Bluestoned ;    uniform  gray 7.0 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

18 

2 

17 

3 

14 

6 

12 

9 

7 

12 

3.0 

13 

2.4 

15 

2.4 

Remarks 


Earthy  fracture 

Earthy  fracture 
Granular 
Earthy  fracture 
Earthy  fracture 


400  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Fusion  test : — It  fused  about  cone  31. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  and  its  bonding  strength  is  medium  low. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  At  cone  9  the  total  shrinkage  is  medium.  Vitri- 
fication is  nearly  complete  at  cone  12  and  there  is  no  sign  of  overburning  at  cone  15. 
It  is  refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :  Refractories  and  face  brick.  Its  slow  slaking  is  rather  unsatis- 
factory for  stoneware  and  architectural  terra  cotta. 

Sample  No.  90 
(Lowell   Stoneware  Company's  pit;    at  Lowell) 
This  is  a  hard  dark  colored,  i.  e.,  gray  clay  which  becomes  very  plastic  when 
tempered  with  water.     Its  conduct  when  flowing  through  a  die  is  very  good. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    20.8 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      8.5 

Pore  water  per  cent     12.2 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  420 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  290 

Slaking  test,  average    min.      9 

Screen  test : — Clay  was  too  hard  to  slake. 
Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   6.8 

Linear ;    wet  length  6.2 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

White    4.1  

Light  cream 5.0  Earthy  fracture 

Light  cream 5.6  Earthy  fracture 

Cream   5.7  

Darker  cream  7.0  Granular   but   vitreous 

fracture 

15  2.0  Tan  exterior ;    bluestoned  badly.     7.6  

Fusion   test: — Deformation  at  cone  30/31. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  high  and  its  bonding  strength  is  medium. 
Because  of  its  hardness,  the  clay  could  not  be  slaked  properly  for  the  screen  tests. 
The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  Vitri- 
fication is  practically  complete  at  cone  15.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  Refractories,  especially  if  good  bonding  power  is  desired.  Its 
slow  slaking  property  is  a  disadvantage  for  stoneware  and  architectural  terra  cotta, 
although  otherwise  it  seems  adapted  to  these  uses. 

Sample  No.  89 
(Near  river  bank  at  Lowell) 

This  report  relates  to  a  resampling  of  the  deposit  by  Mr.  Culver.  This  hard 
clay  is  of  a  gray  color  and  it  has  a  low  degree  of  plasticity.  The  conduct  of  the 
plastic  body  when  forced  through  a  die  is  only  fair. 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

18 

3 

14 

6 

12 

9 

9.5 

12 

5.0 

ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY  401 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     18 

Shrinkage  water per  cent      6.6 

Pore  water  per  cent     11.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  179 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  137.6 

Slaking  test,  average min.     12 

Screen  test: — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

20 4.5  Particles  of  coal,  rock  and  pyrites 

40 6.8  Particles  of  coal,  rock  and  pyrites 

60 2.3  Particles  of  coal,  rock  and  pyrites, 

some  mica 

80 1.1  Particles  of  clay 

120 0.9  Particles  of  clay 

150 2.0  Particles  of  clay 

200 9.4  Particles  of  clay 

Drying  shrinkage  : — Linear   per  cent    4.3 

Burning  test: — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  30  White    +.4 

06  27  Cream  +0.3  

04  28  Cream  —0.1  

02  28  Cream  0.26 

1  27  Cream  0.3  

3  25  Cream  1.0  

5  19  Cream  with  black  spots 2.5  

7  19  Cream  with  black  specks 2.2  

9  17  Black  specks  2.0  

11  12  Black  specks  2.5  Appears  overburned 

Fusion  test : — Fused  completely  at  cone  26. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  unburned  clay  is  medium  low.  Its  bonding  strength  is 
medium  low.  The  amount  of  residues  on  the  sieves  is  high.  The  total  shrinkage 
at  cone  9  is  medium  low.  The  vitrification  is  still  quite  incomplete  at  cone  11,  al- 
though it  has  the  appearance  of  having  been  overburned.     It  is  a  non-refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :  Stoneware,  although  the  hardness  and  slow-slaking  properties 
together  with  the  low  strength  may  be  quite  disadvantageous;   face-brick. 

Sample  No.  95 
(Herrick  Clay  Manufacturing  Company;    1  mile  east  of  Twin  Bluffs) 

This  sample  appears  to  be  a  mixture  of  clay  and  quartzite  lumps  and  grains. 
It  is  a  grayish  or  dark  color. 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.     157 

Slaking  test,  average  min.        6 


402 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   19<P 


Screen   test  :- 
Mesh 


20, 
40, 
60, 

120. 

200, 


Residue      Character  of  residue 

Per  cent 

.     3S 

.     1.8 

.   13.9  J-    Quartz  sand  and  pyrites 

.   23.3 

.     2.6 


Fusion  test : — Deforms  at  cone  27. 

Summary 
The  strength  test  is  medium  low.     The  percentage  of  residues  on  the  screens 

is  high.     It  is  refractory. 

Sample  No.  94 

(National  Fireproofing  Company's  pit  at  Twin  Bluffs) 

The  sample  is  a  dark  gray,  hard  clay  which  contains  some  sandy  material.  When 
tempered  with  water  a  medium  degree  of  plasticity  may  be  developed.  It  does  not 
flow  readily  through  the  die. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent     16.9 

Shrinkage  water   per  cent      7.6 

Pore  water  per  cent      9.2 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  140.6 

Slaking  test,  average    min.     8% 

Screen  test : — Sample  does  not  slake. 
Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear :    dry  length   4.0 

Linear ;    wet  length   3.9 

Volume    15.9 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Gray 

Grayish    white    1.0 

Cream   1.5 

Light  brown   

Light  brown   2.0 

Dark  brown 2.0 

Terra  cotta    2.0 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

24.7 

1 

25.3 

3 

24.6 

5 

21.9 

7 

22.1 

9 

22 

12 

19 

Remarks 


Specked  with  iron 


Color   may  be   due   to 
flashing 


13 


16 


Red  brown  with  black  spots  on 
interior    3.0 

Bluestoned,  gray  black 5.0 

Oxidation  conduct : — Material  seems  to  flash  very  readily. 
Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  31. 


15 


11 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  low. 
At  cone  9  the  total  shrinkage  is  medium  low. 


Its  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low. 
The  clay  is  quite  open  burning,  vitri- 


ILLINOIS   FIRE  CLAYS:      LA  SALLE  COUNTY 


403 


fication  being  incomplete  at  cone  15.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :  The  rather  poor  plasticity  may  render  it  difficult  to  form  this 
clay  readily;  otherwise  it  is  adapted  to  use  for  face  brick.  Although  the  fusion 
test  indicates  a  material  of  refractory  nature,  yet  the  presence  of  numerous  iron 
spots  as  indicated  at  the  lower  cones  is  not  very  satisfactory. 

Sample  No.  91 
(National  Fireproofing  Company's  pit;    2  miles  east  of  Ottawa) 

This  is  a  hard  clay  of  a  dark  gray  color  which  contains  a  notable  amount  of 
pyrites.     It  is  fairly  plastic. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     17.3 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      9.1 

Pore  water  per  cent      8.2 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  309.5 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  236.7 

Slaking  test,  average    min.      9 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 


20. 
40. 
60. 


Trace 
0.3 
2.3 
1.1 
2.1 
2.4 


Pyrite  and  sand 


120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   6.8 

Linear ;    wet  length    6.3 

Volume    18.9 

Burning  test : — 


ne 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

04 

24.8 

02 

22.4 

2 

18.5 

5 

16.5 

9 

14.0 

13 

7.9 

14 

6.3 

15 

16.3 

Burning 

Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

White    2.6 

White    3.5 

Grayish   white    4.8 

Grayish  white  5.4 

Grayish  white  5.6 

Grayish  white  7.0 

Brown  red ;   bluestoned 5.3 

Brown  red  ;    bluestoned 4.8 


Remarks 

Fine  specks  of  iron  oxide 

Fine  specks  of  iron  oxide 

Granular 

Granular 

Numerous  fine  iron  spots 

Iron  spots,  slagged 
Iron  spots,  slagged 


Fusion  test : — Fused  completely  at  cone  27. 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium  and  its  bonding  strength  is  medium.  The 
percentage  of  residues  left  on  the  sieves  is  moderate.  The  drying  shrinkage  is 
medium  and  the  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  Vitrification  is  incomplete  at 
cone  14  and  apparently  the  clay  is  overburned  at  cone  15.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses:  Stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta  and  sanitary  ware  (the 
presence  of  pyrites  may  make  this  use  impossible),  face  (brick. 


404  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Sample  No.  92 
(National  Fireproofing  Company's  pit;    2  miles  east  of  Ottawa) 

This  is  a  very  hard  clay  of  a  light  gray  color.  It  has  only  a  medium  plasticity. 
It  flows  readily  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     17 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      6.9 

Pore  water per  cent     10.1 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  201 

Slaking  test,  average   min.      5 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear  ;    dry  length 4.7 

Volume   14 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

White    4.7         

Light  cream 4.9  Earthy  fracture 

Light  cream 6.0  Earthy  fracture 

Light  cream 6.4  Earthy  fracture 

Light  cream 6.2  Earthy  fracture 

Darker  light  buff 6.9  Very  fine  iron  spots 

evenly  distributed 

Light  buff ;  bluestoned 7.1  

-It  deformed  at  cone  29. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium.  Its  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  The 
total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  It  still  has  an  appreciable  porosity  at  cone  12  and 
apparently  is  slightly  overburned  at  cone  15.    It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :     Refractories,  stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta. 

Sample  No.  101 
(Chicago  Retort  and  Firebrick  Company's  pit,  northeast  of  Ottawa) 

This  is  a  dark  gray  colored,  very  hard  clay,  which  develops  a  fair  plasticity 
when  tempered  with  water.     It  flows  only  fairly  well  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    20.0 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     11.5 

Pore  water  per  cent      8.5 

Modulus  of  rupture,  maximum  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  532 

Modulus  of  rupture,  average lbs.  per  sq.  in.  335 

With   50%    standard    sand — Modulus    of    rupture : — 14   of   20   pieces    gave    an 

average  (not  including  values  of  292.5  and  296.0) lbs.  per  sq.  in.  177 

Slaking  test,  average min.      7T/2 

Drying  shrinkage  : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length  7.0 

Linear ;   wet  length 6.5 

Volume  23.5 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

01 

17.8 

2 

17 

3 

13 

6 

12 

9 

8 

12 

4.7 

15 

6.1 

Fusion  test : — It  de 

ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY 


405 


Burning 

test  :— 

Cone 

:     Porosity 

Per  cent 

02 

19 

2 

17 

4 

6 

15 

9 

13 

12 

11 

13 

12 

15 


13 


Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream   3.6 

Cream   4.0 

Cream  4.4 

Darker  cream  4.2 

Cream   4.4 

Light  terra  cotta  ;   flashed 4.1 

Light  terra  cotta  ;    flashed 4.6 

Buff  5.3 


Remarks 

Earthy  fracture 

Earthy  fracture 

Earthy  fracture 

Earthy  fracture 

Many  fine  iron 

spots 

Many  fine   iron 

spots, 

slagged 

Golden  buff,  numerous 

iron  spots 

Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  29. 


Summary 

The  tests  of  the  clay  showed  it  to  have  medium  strength,  but  it  should  be  noted 
that  a  single  test  piece  gave  a  much  higher  value.  The  bonding  test  also  gave  two 
values,  considerably  higher  than  the  average  of  a  large  number  of  pieces.  The  drying 
shrinkage  is  medium.  The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  Vitrification  is  incom- 
plete at  cone  12,  at  which  temperature  it  is  still  quite  open.  Apparently  slight  over- 
burning  occurs  above  this  point.     The  clay  is  refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :  Face  brick,  stoneware,  architectural  terra  cotta,  sanitary  ware, 
refractories. 

Sample  No.  99 
(Dayton  Clay  Works ;    y2  mile  south  of  Dayton) 

The  clay  is  of  a  dark  gray  color.  It  is  quite  sandy  (see  screen  test),  and  the 
plasticity  is  low.     It  flows  poorly  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent     15.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent      5.1 

Pore  water per  cent     10.8 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  215 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  107 

Slaking  test,  resample  tnin.   22^ 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 4.9  Pyrites    and    carbona- 

ceous matter 

40 0.3  Pyrites  and  quartz  sand 

60 5.8  White  quartz  sand 

80 3.7  Quartz  sand 

120 8.4  Quartz  sand 

200 4.5  Darker  colored  sand 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length  4.9 

Linear ;    wet  length  4.7 

Volume    9 


406  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 

Cone     Porosity  Color  shrinkage 

Percent  Percent 

08  30  Light  gray  white  2.0 

06  30  Light  gray  white   2.0 

04  30  Light  gray  white  2.0 

02  29  Light  gray  white   4.1 

1  25  Light  gray  white  6.2 

3  22  Light  gray  white   9.3 

5  ..  Light  gray  white;    iron  specks..     8.3 

6  23  Slightly  darker 

7  . .  Slightly  darker 6.2 

9  19  Slightly  darker 

12  16  Terracotta;   flashed 

15  21  Terracotta;   flashed 

Fusion  test : — It  fused  at  cone  30. 


Remarks 


Numerous  iron   spots 
Many  large  iron  spots 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength,  and  a  medium  low  bonding  strength.  The 
amount  of  screen  residues  is  high.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low.  The  mini- 
mum porosity  was  reached  at  cone  12  and  it  appeared  to  overburn  at  cone  15.  The 
fusion  test  indicates  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses  :     Face  brick.     Certain  types  of  refractories. 


Sample  No.  102 

(Resampled  by  H.  E.  Culver) 

(Dayton  Clay  Works ;    ]/2  mile  south  of  Dayton) 

This  is  a  hard  clay  which  is  dark  gray,  nearly  black  in  color.     When  tempered 
with  water,  it  becomes  very  plastic  and  flows  through  a  die  satisfactorily. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    33 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     12 

Pore  water per  cent    21 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  297 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  223 

Slaking  test,  average   win.     13 


Screen  test : — 
Mesh 

(Sample  slaked  badly.) 

20 

40 

60 

80 

120 

150 

200 


Residue 
Per  cent 
.  0.8 
.  0.3 
.  1.9 
.  0.4 
.  1.0 
.  0.6 
.     0.9 


Character  of 
residue 


Sand 


Clay  particles 


Drying  shrinkage  : — Linear  ;  wet  length  per  cent    6.0 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY  407 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  29  Salmon    3.0 

06  23  Brownish  red    4.4 

04  15  Darker 6.3 

02  12  Chocolate    7.6 

1  7  Gray 9.2 

3  1.2        Greenish  black 9.4 

5  Overburned 

Fusion  test : — Completely  fused  at  cone  27.     Vesicular. 

Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  a  medium  bonding  strength.  It  slakes 
rather  poorly  and  leaves  a  moderate  amount  of  residues  upon  the  screens.  The 
drying  shrinkage  is  medium.  The  clay  has  a  short  heat  range.  It  reaches  a  minimum 
porosity  at  cone  3  and  is  overburned  at  cone  5.     It  is  non-refractory. 

Suggested  uses :     Brick  and  tile. 

Sample  No.  129 

(Resampled  by  Mr.  Culver) 

(Chicago  Firebrick  Company's  shaft;    2  miles  east  of  Marseilles) 

This  clay  has  a  dark  gray  color.  It  is  very  hard.  When  tempered  with  water, 
it  has  good  plasticity.    Its  conduct  when  squeezed  through  a  die  is  fair. 

Water  of  plasticity  per  cent  32.9 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent  21.7 

Pore  water per  cent  11.2 

Modulus  of  rupture,  maximum lbs.  per  sq.  in.  900 

Modulus  of  rupture,  average lbs.  per  sq.  in.  795 

With  50%  standard  sand — Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  247 

Slaking  test,  2nd  sample   min.  34 

Screen  test: — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 

20 1.2  Quartz,  coal,  pyrites 

40 0.4  

60 0.8  

80 1.3  Particles  of  hard  clay 

120 0.4  Particles  of  hard  clay 

150 0.3  Particles  of  hard  day 

200 1.27  Particles  of  hard  clay 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length    12.5 

Linear ;    wet   length    10.0 


408  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Cone     Porosity     Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent  Per  cent 

08  22  Cream    1.5 

06  20  Cream    2.1 

04  13  Grayish    3.0 

02  12  Grayish    4.0 

1  7  Grayish   4.2 

3  8  Grayish 4.4 

4  Overburned     Iron  spots 

Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  27/28. 

Summary 

The  strength  of  this  clay  as  determined  by  taking  the  average  of  nineteen  of 
twenty-one  test  pieces  is  medium  high.  It  should  be  noted  that  the  maximum  strength 
test  of  900  pounds  per  square  inch  was  obtained  with  four  test  pieces.  The  bonding 
test  was  medium.  The  amount  of  residues  left  upon  the  screens  was  moderate.  The 
drying  shrinkage  was  medium  high  and  the  total  shrinkage  at  cone  1  was  high.  The 
sample  appeared  to  be  overburned  at  cone  4.  The  fusion  test  indicates  a  refractory 
clay. 

Sample  No.  130-a 

(Streator  Clay  Manufacturing  Company's  shaft;    2  miles  south  of  Streator) 
This  is  a  dark  colored,  very  hard  clay,  which  contains  much  pyrite.     Its  slaking 
time  averages  6^2  minutes.     It  is  completely  fused  at  cone  25. 

Sample  No.  130-b 

(Streator  Clay  Manufacturing  Company's  shaft;    2  miles  south  of  Streator) 
This  is  a  dark  colored,  i.  e.,  grayish,  very  hard  clay.     The  average  time  of  the 
slaking  test  was  nineteen  minutes.     It  is  completely  fused  at  cone  25. 

Sample  No.  131 
(Spring  Lake  Coal  Company's  shaft  at  Kangley) 

This  is  a  hard,  greenish-gray  colored  clay,  which  is  stained  with  iron  oxide.  It 
has  a  conchoidal  fracture.  When  tempered  with  water,  a  medium  plasticity  may  be 
developed.  Its  conduct  when  forced  through  a  die  is  satisfactory.  The  occurrence 
of  gypsum  crystals  in  the  clay  was  noted. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    29.7 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     13.3 

Pore  water per  cent     16.4 

Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  361.8 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  192.6 

Slaking  test,  average min.     15 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    5.7 

Volume  20.0 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     LA  SALLE  COUNTY 


409 


Screen  test 
Mesh 


10. 

14. 

20. 

35. 

48 

65. 
100. 
150. 
200. 


Residue 
Per  cent 
.     0.9  ' 
.     1.0 
.     1.1 
.     2.6 
.     1.18 
.     1.0 
.     0.8 
.     0.65 
.     0.50 


Character  of 
residue 


Particles  of  shale,  pyrite, 
and  coal 


Burning  test 


Color 


Total 
shrinkage 
Per  cent 

Terra  cotta   13.9 

Terra  cotta   15.3 

Reddish  brown  15.3 

Brown  

Brown   

Soluble  salts : — Salts  appear  on  the  pieces  after  burning. 
Fusion  test : — It  fused  at  cone  25. 


Cone 

04 

01 

3 

5 
7 


Porosity 

Per  cent 

10.3 

1.75 

0.9 

4.8 

11.8 


Remarks 

Scummed  by  efflorescent  salts 
Vitreous  glassy  fracture 
Vitreous  glassy  fracture 
Overburned,  bloated 
Overburned,  bloated 


Summary 

The  strength  of  the  clay  is  medium.  Its  bonding  strength  is  medium  low.  The 
amount  of  coarse  particles  is  moderate  and  the  fractions  are  quite  evenly  distributed. 
The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  3  is  high.  The  clay  vitrifies  rapidly  at  a  low  temperature 
and  is  overburned  at  cone  5,  thus  having  a  very  limited  heat  range.  It  is  non- 
refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :     Common  brick. 


GRUNDY  COUNTY 

An  exceptional  thickness  of  clay  is  found  in  the  depression  formerly 
occupied  by  Goose  Lake.  Lenses  of  this  clay  are  of  a  semi-flinty  nature 
and  thin  layers  of  coal  are  interbedded  with  it.  This  coal  varies  in  thick- 
ness, and  at  the  west  end  will  total  6  or  7  feet.  The  total  thickness  of  the 
clay  is  reported  to  vary  from  30  to  40  feet  and  the  overburden  over  the 
200  acre  deposit  ranges  from  practically  nothing  to  6  or  8  feet  with  an  aver- 
age of  about  3  feet.  A  drilling  30  feet  deep  did  not  reach  the  bottom  of 
the  clay.  "Islands"  of  rock  are  found  in  the  clay  and  suggest  its  accumula- 
tion in  solution  basins  in  the  crystalline  Richmond  limestone  which  out- 
crops at  the  north;  at  least  these  basins  were  in  some  way  partly  separated 
from  the  main  "Coal  Measures"  sea  at  the  south.  Fig.  56  is  a  view  of  the 
clay  pit  at  the  west  end  of  the  Goose  Lake  area. 

A  face  exposed  in  the  bank  of  a  small  test  pit  is  as  follows : 


410  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Thickness 

Ft. 

In. 

8  to  10 

Oto   3 

1 

6 

3 

6 

Fig.  56.     View  of  the  clay  pit  at  the  west  end  of  the  Goose  Lake  area  in  Grundy  County. 
Section  of  upper  part  of  Goose  Lake  clay 


5.     Peaty  soil  and  peat   

4.     Sandstone,  local  thin  lenses  

3.     Fireclay,   flint   or   semi-flint,   drab,   stained   by  iron   and   showing 

colorings  of  carbon  (Sample  No.  133) 

2.     Shale,  stained  black  by  carbon   

1.     Clay,  drab  gray  with  yellow  stains  of  iron  oxide  (Sample  No.  134) 

The  upper  "flint"  or  "semi-flint"  is  underlain  by  a  thin  coal  which  is  in 
turn  above  a  plastic  clay  of  lower  refractory  value. 

An  additional  sample,  known  as  No.  X,  which  was  obtained  from  a  pit 
on  the  Anderson  farm  in  Goose  Lake  Township,  Grundy  County,  was  col- 
lected and  shipped  to  the  Survey  by  D.  C.  Haeger.  It  is  known  as  No.  1 
fire  clay,  according  to  Mr.  Haeger.  The  clay  lies  in  a  bed  5  feet  in  thick- 
ness and  is  covered  by  20  to  24  feet  of  soft  stone,  30  to  36  feet  of  sandstone, 
and  16  inches  of  black  soil. 

Results  of  tests  on  sample  No.  X  are  given  on  page  412. 

RESULTS  OF  TESTS 
GRUNDY  COUNTY 

Sample  No.  133 

(Clay  pit  at  the  west  end  of  the  Goose  Lake  area) 

This  is  a  drab  colored,  flinty  clay,  stained  with  iron.  When  ground  and  tem- 
pered with  water,  it  develops  a  medium  plasticity. 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:      GRUNDY  COUNTY 


411 


Water  of  plasticity 

Shrinkage  water  

Pore  water   

With  50%  standard  sand- 
Slaking  test,  average    . . . 
Screen  test : — 
Mesh 


-Modulus  of  rupture 


per  cent  18.2 

per  cent  8.6 

per  cent  9.6 

lbs.  per  sq.  in.  59.6 
min.  3 


40 

60 

80 

120 

200 

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Linear ;   dry  length 
Linear;    wet  length 

Volume    

Burning  test : — 


Residue 
Per  cent 
.  0.14' 
.  0.24 
.  0.30 
.  0.64 
.     0.25 


Character  of 
residue 


Particles  of  hard  clay 
and  sand 


Per  cent 
..     3.6 
..     3.5 
..   16.6 


Cone 

02 
01 

3 

6 

9 
12 

13 
15 


Porosity 
Per  cent 

24 

24.3 

22 

21 

17 

12 


Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

White    2.81 

White    3.3  j 

White    4.2| 

White    4.3 

Cream  white  5.0 

Cream  white   6.4  \ 


Cream  white   

Buff;  lightly  bluestoned 


7.21 


Remarks 


Earthy  fracture 


Granular  fracture ;  nu- 
merous flinty  parti- 
cles and  fine  iron 
stain 


Fusion  test: — Deforms  between  cones  30  and  31. 


Summary 

The  bonding  strength  of  the  clay  is  low.  The  drying  shrinkage  is  medium  low. 
The  total  shrinkage  at  cone  9  is  medium.  It  has  a  low  porosity  at  cone  15.  It  is 
a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :     Refractories. 

Sample  No.  134 
(Clay  pit  at  west  end  of  Goose  Lake  area) 

This  is  a  clay  of  medium  hardness,  and  gray  colored  but  stained  with  yellow. 
Tempered  with  water,  it  has  a  medium  degree  of  plasticity  and  shows  a  tendency  to 
laminate  when  forced  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    31.8 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent     18.5 

Pore  water per  cent     13.3 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  442 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture  lbs.  per  sq.  in.  194 

Slaking  test,  average   min.     14 


412 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Screen  test  :- 
Mesh 


Residue 
Per  cent 
.  0.1 
.  0.7 
.  0.1 
.  0.9 
.     0.3 


Character  of 
residue 
Sand 
Sand 
Sand 
Sand 
Sand 


Remarks 


Earthy  fracture 


Vitreous ;    not  glassy 


20   

60   

80 

120   

200   

Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear ;    dry  length   7.6 

Linear ;    wet  length   7.1 

Burning  test : — 

Burning 
Color  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Cream  white 1.4' 

Cream  white 3.0 

Cream  white 5.4 

Cream  white 6.0 

Cream  white 6.7 

Light  gray  7.2 

6.4  

Light  brown  exterior  ;  bluestoned 

or  light  gray 6.3  

-Deforms  at  cone  28. 

Summary 
The  clay  has  a  medium  high  strength  and  a  medium  low  bonding  strength.    The 
drying  shrinkage  is  medium.     The  amount  of  screen  residues  is  low.     At  cone  9  the 
total  shrinkage  is  medium  high.     It  reaches  a  low  degree  of  porosity  at  cone  13  and 
shows  no  sign  of  overburning  at  cone  15.     It  is  a  refractory  clay. 

Suggested  uses :     Refractories,  architectural  terra  cotta,  stoneware,  sanitary  ware, 
face  brick. 

Sample  No.  X 
(Anderson  farm  in  Goose  Lake  township) 
This  is  a  drab  colored,  flinty  clay,  which  develops  a  medium  plasticity  when  tem- 
pered with  water — i.  e.,  it  is   rather  sandy  or  grainy.     The   plastic  mass   laminates 
badly  when  squeezed  through  a  die. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    26.6 

Shrinkage  water per  cent     14.6 

Pore  water  per  cent     12.0 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  317.4 

With  50%  standard  sand— Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  202.3 

Screen  test : — 

Mesh  Residue  Character  of 

Per  cent  residue 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

04 

30 

02 

26 

2 

17 

5 

15 

9 

11 

13 

4.1 

14 

4.0 

15 

4.3 

Fusion  test : — Defoi 

10. 
14. 
20. 
35. 
48. 
65. 


2.9 
1.8 
2.8 
8.5 

5.5 
5.4 


Fragments    of    coal   and 
shale 


ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     JOHNSON  COUNTY 


413 


100. 

150. 
200. 


Fragments    of    coal   and 
shale,  and  some  mica 


Drying  shrinkage : — 

Per  cent 

Linear    6.2 

Volume   26 


Burning  test: — 

Cone     Porosity     Color 

Per  cent 

04            10.0  Gray 

01              6.9  Gray 

1            12.5  Gray 

3              6.8  Gray 

5              2.4  Gray 

7              1.3  Gray 

9              0.4  Gray 

12              0.5  Gray 

14              0.5  Gray 

Fusion  test : — It  deforms  at  cone  28. 


Total 
Hardness  shrinkage 

Per  cent 

Very  hard  12 

Very  hard  13 

Very  hard  12 

Very  hard  12.7 

Very  hard   12.9 

Very  hard  12.9 

Very  hard   12.9 

Very  hard   13.1 

Very  hard  12.2 


Remarks 


Granular  fracture 


Slightly  bluestoned 


Some  iron  specks 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  strength  and  bonding  strength.  The  air  shrinkage  and 
total  shrinkage  are  medium.  It  is  almost  completely  vitrified  at  cone  5  and  shows 
no  signs  of  overburning  throughout  the  firing  range.     It  is  refractory. 

Suggested  uses  :     Refractories,  particularly  those  of  a  close  texture. 


JOHNSON   COUNTY 

About  two  miles  southeast  of  Ozark  station  is  a  deposit  of  Pottsville 
oil  shale  or  cannel  coal  which  has  been  investigated  by  the  Survey.  Perhaps 
the  best  typical  exposure  of  this  deposit  and  the  associated  strata  is  that  on 
the  Stone  land,  a  section  of  which  is  here  given: 

Section  of  oil  shale  measured  in  a  test  pit  on  the  Frank  Stone  land 
in  the  NW.  %  NW.  %  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  4  E. 

Thickness 
Ft.       In. 

8.     Soil,  yellow   1  to  5 

7.     Shale,    chocolate,    siliceous 4        2 

6.     Mud,  red,  merely  a  streak 

5.    Oil  shale  2        9 

4.     Coal,  bituminous  1 14 

3.     Coal,  cannel 4 

2.     Coal,  bituminous,  with  peacock-colored  blotches 2 

1.  "Fire  clay,"  white   5+   . . 

In  connection  with  the  sampling  of  the  oil  shale  a  sample  of  the  under- 
lying clay  was  taken  and  tested  with  the  results  that  follow. 


414 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Sample  No.  C-18— 1 

(Sample  taken  from  below  the  cannel  coal  near  Ozark  in  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  4  E.) 
This  sample  is  medium  hard,  gray  colored  clay,  mottled  with  brown,  which  latter 
color  may  be  due  to  the  presence  of  organic  matter.     It  has  rather  poor  plasticity. 

Water  of  plasticity per  cent    22.09 

Shrinkage  water  per  cent       9.20 

Pore  water per  cent     12.89 

Modulus  of  rupture lbs.  per  sq.  in.  147.3 

Slaking  test,  average  min.      8 

Drying  shrinkage,  linear per  cent     4.4 

Burning  test : — 

Total 
Color  shrinkage  Remarks 

Per  cent 

Light  tan   8.3 

Light  tan    7.3  Earthy  fracture 

Gray    9 

Dark  gray   11.5 

Dark  gray   7 


Cone 

Porosity 

Per  cent 

04 

18.7 

01 

16.4 

1 

17.9 

5 

9.4 

7 

3.1 

Shows   signs  of  over- 
burning 


Fusion  test : — It  fuses  at  cone  16. 


Summary 

The  clay  has  a  medium  low  strength  and  a  medium  drying  shrinkage.  The 
burning  shrinkage  at  cone  5  is  medium  high.  It  seems  to  be  overburned  at  cone  7. 
The  trial  pieces  have  the  appearance  of  having  been  subjected  to  reducing  conditions 
at  and  above  cone  5.     The  clay  is  non-refractory,  in  fact,  it  is  very  fusible. 

Suggested  uses  :     Brick. 


Tabulation  of^  Certain  Physical  Tests 

A  knowledge  of  certain  of  the  physical  tests  of  a  clay  will  enable  the 
experienced  person  to  determine  very  quickly  whether  it  is  likely  to  be  of 
value  for  a  specific  purpose.  Accordingly  there  are  grouped  in  the  following 
paragraphs  classifications  of  the  clays  examined  according  to  the  results 
obtained  in  the  more  significant  tests.  A  full  explanation  of  the  methods 
of  testing  and  the  interpretation  has  been  given  elsewhere. 

Slaking  test: — The  samples  which  required  more  than  thirty  minutes 
for  slaking  according  to  the  standard  test  were:    Nos.  22,  38,  44  (169)  55, 

58.  59,  60,  97,  98,  100,  129,  136. 

Fusion  test: — The  samples  which  fused  below  cone  27  were:  Nos.  17, 
37-a,  41,  42,  47,  50,  52,  54,  55,  56,  57,  58,  61,  62,  67,  69,  70,  73-a,  74,  75-a, 
75-b,  79,  80,  81,  82,  83,  84,  85,  86,  89,  91,  97,  102,  130-a,  131,  136. 

The  samples  which  fused  between  cones  27  and  32  inclusive  were : 
Nos.  9,  16,  22,  23,  25,  27,  28,  29,  30,  37,  38,  44,  45  (1678),  46,  48,  51,  53, 

59,  60,  65,  66,  71,  73-b,  73-c,  75,  77,  78,  87,  88,  90,  92,  93,  94,  95,  96,  98, 
99,  100,  101,  121,  122,  129,  133,  134,  X. 

The  samples  which  fused  at  cones  33  and  above  were:     Nos.  11,  18,  26. 


ILLINOIS   FIRE  CLAYS:     TABULATION   OF  PHYSICAL  TESTS 


415 


Porosities: — A  grouping  of  the  samples  in  accordance  with  their  porosi- 
ties at  various  cones  is  given  in  the  following  table : 


5%  or  less  at  or 
below  cone  5 

5%  or  less  between 
cones  5  and  9 

5%  or  less  between 
cones  9  and  12 

5%  or  less  between 
cones  12  and  15 

10%  or  more  at 
cone  12  or  above 

23 

F 

G 

18 

16 

26 

25 

K3 

38 

46 

29 

27 

49 

54 

50 

30 

28 

51 

56 

70 

42 

37 

73-a 

65 

75-a 

55 

37-a 

75 

71 

79 

57 

52 

90 

74 

84 

58 

66 

96 

77 

89 

59 

81 

97 

87 

94 

60 

86 
121 

122 

92 

98* 

61 

99 

62 

134 

101 

67 

69 

73-b 

73-c 

82 

83 

85 

88 

93 

102 

131 

*Probably. 

Strength  tests: — The  following  are  the  transverse  strength  tests  of  the 
various  clays  reported  in  terms  of  the  moduli  of  rupture  in  pounds  per  square 
inch.  The  symbol  "p"  is  used  to  indicate  results  obtained  in  testing  the  clay 
only.  The  symbol  "b"  indicates  the  test  of  a  mixture  of  equal  parts  of 
standard  sand  and  clay;   that  is  to  say,  the  "bonding  strength." 


Sample 

Below  200  lbs.  per  sq.  in. 

Between  200  and  400  lbs. 

per  sq.  in. 

Above  400  lb 

5.  per  sq.  in. 

P 

b 

P 

b 

P 

b 

9 

104.4 

11 

43.4 

64.1 

180.9 

16 

17 

23 

311.2 

302.3 

25 

141.2 

131.2 
137.5 
120.9 
151.8 
286.1 

26 

259 
265 

27 

28 

192 

29 

30 

345 

229 

416 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


Sample 

Below  200  lbs.  per  sq.  in. 

Between  200  and  400  lbs. 
per  sq.  in. 

Above  400  lbs. 

per  sq.  in. 

P 

b 

P 

b 

P 

b 

37 

249.7 

238.7 

487.2 

37-a 

240.7 

38 

164.8 

42 

283.1 

44 

325.6 
299.5 
214 

465.6 
526.6 

45 

46 

217.4 
365.8 
369.2 
207 

47 

49 

189.5 

50 

275.5 

51 

199 

446.8 

52 

380.2 

243.9 

53 

120.2 

103.1 

54 

250 

250 

55 

172.5 

145.1 

56 

231.8 
370 

462 

565.5 

57 

58 

165.7 

124.6 
169.8 
164.5 

59 

589 
427 
567 

60 

61 

372.7 

65 

240.8 

66 

414.5 

67 

303.8 

248.7 

242 

302.8 

69 

498.3 
609 

70 

71 

144 

328 

352.2 

356.5 

339.3 

221.8 

295.6 

269.6 

263 

320 

325.8 

287.3 

73-a 

73-b 

73-c 

74 

214.9 

75 

75-a 

192 
199.6 

75-b 

77 

261 
209.4 

78 

79 

119.5 

80 

445.4 
484.8 
664 

82 

185.2 

83 

329 

84 

214 

386.7 

85 

86 

190.2 

87 

290.3 
243 

497.6 

88 

89 

179 

137.6 

ILLINOIS  FIRE  CLAYS:     TABULATION  OF  PHYSICAL  TESTS 


417 


Sample 

Below  200  lbs.  per  sq.  in 

Between  200  and  400  lbs. 
per  sq.  in. 

Above  400  lbs 

.  per  sq.  in. 

P 

b 

P 

b 

P 

b 

90 

290 
236.7 

420 

91 

309.5 

201 

302.5 

92 

93 

554.7 

94 

140.6 

96 

107.3 

277 

97 

201 
246 

565 

98 

149 
107 

99 

215 

100 

222 

475 
532 

101 

177 

102 

297 

223 

121 

191 
177 

123.3 
136.5 

122 

129 

247 

795 

131 

192.6 
59.6 
194 

361.8 

133 

134 

442 

SUMMARY 
Grouping  of  Clays  According  to  Uses 
In  the  following  summary  the  clays  have  been  grouped  according  to  uses 
to  which  they  seem  to  be  adapted.     It  is  to  be  understood  that  the  arrange- 
ment is  based  solely  upon  the  data  given,  and  not  upon  special  tests. 
Refractory  clays  burning  to  a  porosity  of  5  per  cent  or  less  at  cone  temperatures  not 
exceeding  cone  9: 

Samples  F,  G,  K3,  Nos.  23,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  30,  37,  37a,  55,  59,  66,  73c,  88,  93, 

121,  122. 
Refractory  clays  which  have  a  porosity  of  more  than  5  per  cent  below  cone  9: 

Nos.  16,  18,  22,  38,  44,45,  46,  49,  51,  53,  54,  56,  71,  75,  77,  78,  80,  87,  90,  92,  94,  96,  97, 

98,  99,  100,  101,  129,  133,  134. 
Stoneware  clays: 

Nos.  9,  23,  25,  26,  28,  29,  30,  37,  37a,  38,  41,  42,  44,  47,  49,  51,  52,  54,  56,  57,  65,  66, 

70,  71,  73a,  73c,  74,  75,  75b,  77,  78,  79,  80,  85,  87,  88,  89,  90,  91,  92,  93,  96,  97,  100, 

101,  121,  122,  134. 
Architectural  terra  cotta  clays: 

Nos.  9,  23,25,  26,28,  29,  30,  37,  37a,  38,  41,  42,  44,  47,  49,  51,  52  53,  54,  55,  56,  57, 

58,  60,  65,  66,  70,  71,  73a,  73c,  74,  75,  75b,  77,  78,  79,  80,  84,  85,  87,  88,  89,  90,  91,  92, 

93,  96,  97,  100,  101,  121,  122,  134. 
Sewer  pipe  clays: 

Nos.  50,  57,  59,  60,  65,  67,  73b,  83,  86. 
Face  brick  clays: 

Nos.  42,  45,  47,  49,  50,  51,  52,  53,  54,  56,  57,  58,  59,  61,  62,  65,  67,  70,  71,  73a,  73b, 

73c,  74,  75b,  77,  78,  79,  80,  83,  84,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89,  91,  92,  93,  96,  97,  98,  99,  100, 

101,  134. 
Common  brick,  tile,  etc.: 

Nos.  61,  62,  69,  75a,  81,  82,  86,  102,  131,  136. 
Sanitary  ware  clays: 

Nos.  23,  25,  26,  28,  29,  30,  37,  37a,  38,  41,  42,  44,  47,  49,  51,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  57, 

65,  66,  70,  71,  73a,  73c,  74,  75b,  77,  78,  79,  80,  85,  87,  88,  89,  90,  91,  92,  93,  96,  97, 

98,  99,  100,  101,  134. 


OPTICAL  FLUORITE  IN  SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS1 

By  Joseph  E.  Pogue2 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction 419 

Properties,  uses,  and  value  of  optical  fluorite 420 

Occurrence  of  optical  fluorite   423 

List    of    prospective    purchasers 424 

Suggestions  as  to  development 424 

ILLUSTRATION 

FIGURE 

57.     Sketch  showing  the  sizes  of  finished  products  made  from  optical  fluorite 421 

INTRODUCTION 

Fluorite,  or  fluorspar  as  it  is  commonly  called,  is  a  mineral  of  rather 
limited  occurrence,  used  in  bulk  in  this  country  in  the  manufacture  of  steel, 
hydrofluoric  acid,  enamels,  glazes,  and  for  a  few  other  purposes.  In  addi- 
tion, clear,  colorless,  or  faintly  colored  specimens,  such  as  occur  rather 
sparingly  in  some  localities  along  with  the  crude  material,  are  suitable  for 
the  manufacture  of  certain  types  of  lenses  and  prisms  employed  in  micro- 
scopes and  other  optical  instruments.  Although  the  largest  known  deposits 
of  fluorite  in  the  world  occupy  a  belt  of  country  extending  from  southeast- 
ern  Illinois  into  western  Kentucky,  but  centering  in  Hardin  County,  Illinois, 
the  availability  for  optical  use  of  the  product  from  this  region  has  heretofore 
been  neglected,  and  the  United  States  has  been  dependent  upon  foreign 
sources  for  its  material,  which  came  largely  through  the  hands  of  German 
optical  dealers.3 

In  connection  with  a  recent  geological  survey  of  the  fluorspar  deposits 
of  southern  Illinois,  the  State  Geological  Survey  with  this  application  in 
mind  has  determined  the  presence  of  optical  fluorite  of  excellent  quality 
and  in  quantity  probably  sufficient  to  supply  the  needs  of  the  United  States. 
This  report  is  published  for  the  purpose  of  bringing  the  matter  to  the 
attention  of  the  industries  concerned,  with  a  view  to  stimulating  a  suitable 
production,  now  particularly  needed  as  a  result  of  the  cutting  off  of  foreign 
supplies  by  the  war.  The  report  is  designed  to  be  nontechnical  in  character 
and  to  supply  the  information  essential  to  a  proper  development  of  this 
resource. 

iReprint  of  extract  from  Bull.  38,  first  published  in  1918. 

?In  the  field  investigation  upon  which  this  report  is  based,  the  writer  was  assisted  by 
L.  W.   Currier. 

30nly  two  foreign  sources  of  optical  fluorite  are  known  to  the  writer;  these  are 
Meiringen,  Switzerland,  and  Obira,  Bungo,  Japan. 

419 


420  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

PROPERTIES,  USES,  AND  VALUE  OF  OPTICAL  FLUORITE 

Each  transparent  mineral  not  only  bends  or  refracts  rays  of  light  in  a 
definite  and  characteristic  manner,  but  bends  the  colored  components  of  the 
individual  rays  at  slightly  different  angles — a  property  called  dispersion. 
In  addition  to  this,  most  minerals  break  light  into  two  rays,  each  of  which 
is  both  refracted  and  dispersed ;  only  minerals  that  crystallize  in  very  sym- 
metrical forms,  such  as  cubes  or  octahedrons,  do  not  show  this  double 
refraction.  Fluorite  bends  light  very  slightly  (has  a  low  index  of  refrac- 
tion) ;  disperses  light  faintly  (that  is,  its  refraction  of  red  rays  differs  only 
a  little  from  its  refraction  of  yellow  rays  and  so  on)  ;  and  normally  displays 
no  double  refraction.  These  three  properties  place  fluorite  in  a  unique 
position  among  minerals  and  fit  it  for  a  highly  specialized  optical  use  which 
no  other  mineral  or  artificial  substance  can  meet  equally  well.  Only  three 
or  four  other  minerals  have  lower  refraction  than  fluorite;  but  these  are 
either  colored  or  are  not  sufficiently  transparent,  and  moreover  show  marked 
double  refraction  as  a  result  of  their  crystallization.  Hence  fluorite  stands 
alone. 

Glass,  of  a  special  kind,  is  the  dominant  material  used  in  all  optical 
apparatus.  By  varying  the  chemical  composition  of  the  glass  and  the  shape 
of  the  lenses  and  prisms  made  from  it,  the  various  optical  effects  desired  are 
obtained.  Owing  to  the  reflection  of  light  from  surfaces  and  a  breaking 
up  or  dispersion  of  light  in  passing  through  a  substance,  errors  are  intro- 
duced, and  to  neutralize  or  minimize  these  errors  calls  for  the  best  efforts 
of  technical  art  and  scientific  knowledge.  It  is  here  that  optical  fluorite 
finds  its  chief  use.1  Due  to  its  low  refractive  power  and  very  weak  color 
dispersion,  this  mineral  is  especially  suitable  for  correcting  the  spherical  and 
chromatic  errors  of  lens-systems.  The  so-called  apochromatic  objective 
used  with  microscopes  consists  of  a  lens  of  fluorite  placed  between  lenses 
of  glass  and  represents  the  finest  type  of  objective  that  optical  art  produces. 
There  are  two  other  classes  of  objectives,  less  fine  and  less  costly,  the 
achromat  and  the  semiap ochromat ;  fluorspar  is  used  only  in  the  second  of 
these,  which  is  a  sort  of  compromise  between  the  cruder  achromat  and  the 
more  nearly  perfect  apochromat.  The  less  expensive  semiapochromat  could 
replace  the  apochromat  in  many  instances,  were  optical  fluorite  more  avail- 
able; but  at  present  the  manufacturer  is  forced  to  conserve  -his  meagre 
supplies  of  fluorite  for  use  in  making  the  finer  and  more  expensive  apochro- 
mats.  It  therefore  appears  that  a  plentiful  supply  of  optical  fluorite  would 
be  of  great  benefit  to  the  microscope  industry,  as  thus  far  the  output  of 
optical  systems  containing  fluorite  has  been  limited  simply  by  an  insufficient 
supply  of  this  material.  The  development  of  adequate  sources  of  optical 
fluorite  therefore   becomes  a  matter  of   considerable   importance,   affecting 


iThe  writer  is  indebted  to  the  Bausch  and  Lomb  Optical  Company,  the  Spencer  Lens 
Company,  and  the  Bureau  of  Standards  for  details  in  regard  to  the  use  of  optical  fluorite. 


OPTICAL  FLUORITE  421 

ultimately  through  cheaper  and  more  efficient  microscopes  the  progress  of 
scientific  and  medical  research. 

Optical  fluorite  is  also  used  in  making  prisms  for  spectrographs  employed 
in  ultra-violet  work  and  for  use  in  other  optical  apparatus  in  cases  where 
great  transparency  to  the  ultra-violet  and  the  infra-red  parts  of  the  spec- 
trum is  required.  It  is  likewise  employed  as  part  of  the  lens-system  in 
telescopes  to  correct  certain  color  effects.  Specimens  suitable  for  such 
highly  specialized  uses  as  those  mentioned  in  this  paragraph  are  difficult 
to  obtain,  because  of  the  comparatively  large  size  of  pieces  required ;  but 
the  demand  for  such  material  is  rather  limited  in  an  economic  sense,  though 
very  insistent  and  important  for  the  furtherance  of  investigational  activities. 
While  practically  all  fluorite  possesses  the  optical  qualifications  noted  above, 
the  vast  preponderance  of  material  is  too  strongly  colored  or  else  too  clouded 
with  internal  fissures  and  inclusions  to  transmit  light  unaffected  by  these 
undesirable  influences.  Moreover,  some  clear  and  colorless  specimens  other- 
wise suitable  for  optical  use  are  found  to  show  an  anomalous  double  refrac- 
tion, due  probably  to  abnormal  conditions  during  crystallization,  which  ren- 
ders them  unfit.  These  incidental,  rather  than  inherent  properties,  therefore, 
become  the  controlling  factors  in  determining  the  availabilty  of  material, 
and  consequently  determine  the  practical  specifications  which  prospective 
material  must  meet. 


O 


e 

Fig.  57.     Sketch. 

Fig.  57. — Sketch  showing  the  sizes  of  finished  products  made  from  optical 
fluorite :  a,  top  and  side  view  showing  approximate  size  of  smallest  fluorite  lens  in 
common  use;  b,  top  and  side  view  showing  approximate  size  of  largest  fluorite  lens 
in  common  use ;  c,  approximate  sizes  of  optical  fluorite  pieces  used  in  special  investi- 
gations. 

For  optical  use  a  specimen  of  fluorite  must  contain  a  portion  at  least 
one-fourth  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  free  from  flaws,  and  colorless  or  nearly 
so.  Crystals,  or  pieces  bounded  more  or  less  completely  by  plane  surfaces, 
are  more  likely  to  qualify  than  irregular  masses.     As  the  surfaces  of  most 


422  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

crystals  are  dull,  a  corner  of  such  a  specimen  should  be  broken  off  with  a 
sharp  blow  so  as  to  expose  the  interior.  In  doing  this,  it  is  desirable  to  rest 
the  specimen  on  a  wooden  base  and  break  off  the  corner  along  an  incipient 
cleavage  plane  by  means  of  a  knife  blade  or  chisel;  such  planes  are  usually 
present  and  may  be  located  by  moistening  the  specimen  with  kerosene.  If 
the  specimen  looks  promising,  it  is  better  to  proceed  no  further,  as  fluorite 
is  fragile  and  a  misdirected  blow  will  fill  a  clear  piece  with  a  network  of 
fractures.  A  peculiarity  of  fluorite  of  optical  quality  is  its  conchoidal  (irreg- 
ularly curved)  fracture  and  the  absence  of  a  strong  tendency  to  break  into 
pieces  bounded  by  smooth  planes  in  the  fashion  of  the  ordinary  mineral. 

An  idea  of  the  sizes  involved  may  be  gained  from  the  accompanying 
figure,  which  shows  the  approximate  sizes  of  the  finished  lenses.  As  to 
color,  material  that  is  absolutely  water-clear  is  of  course  the  most  desirable, 
and  in  fact  is  essential  for  highly  specialized  uses ;  but  faint  tints  of  green, 
yellow,  and  purple  do  not  in  themselves  render  material  altogether  unsuited 
for  optical  use.  Flaws  must  be  lacking  from  the  portion  to  be  used,  but 
flaws  are  present  in  the  bulk  of  fluorite,  due  both  to  cracks  (incipient  cleav- 
ages) and  to  inclusions  of  bubbles  or  of  visible  impurities;  accordingly  the 
most  detailed  search  is  necessary  to  find  pieces  free  from  these  objections. 
Moreover,  careless  handling,  even  jolts  resulting  from  shipping,  may  develop 
flaws  in  clear  material ;  hence  the  utmost  care  must  be  exercised  in  separat- 
ing material  of  optical  promise  from  its  crude  associations  and  in  suitably 
packing  such  material. 

The  anomalous  double  refraction  shown  by  some  specimens,  particularly 
by  symmetrical  crystal  groups  known  technically  as  "twin-crystals,"  bars 
such  material  from  optical  use ;  but  this  property  can  be  determined  only  by 
a  microscope  or  other  optical  instrument  at  the  eye  of  a  trained  observer. 
A  clue  to  this  condition  is  given  in  some  cases  by  fine,  parallel  striations  or 
rulings,  marking  a  twinned  condition  of  crystallization.  In  general,  how- 
ever, the  clear  specimens  of  southern  Illinois  fluorite  already  examined  have 
been  largely  free  from  double  refraction  ;  hence  for  all  practical  purposes 
this  test  may  be  ignored  in  the  field  and  left  to  the  optical  dealer  to  apply  at 
his  discretion. 

The  value  of  optical  fluorite  and  the  demand  for  it  can  not  be  expressed 
in  definite  figures,  for  the  material  is  a  specialized  thing  instead  of  a  staple 
product.  On  the  one  hand,  the  demand  will  increase  if  optical  fluorite  can 
be  produced  at  a  figure  sufficiently  reasonable  to  warrant  an  enlarged  utiliza- 
tion; whereas,  on  the  other,  an  inflated  price  will  destroy  the  opportunity 
for  an  increased  demand.  It  must  be  remarked  also  that  only  a  small  por- 
tion, say  4  to  8  per  cent  on  the  average,  of  material  classed  as  optical  fluorite 
actually  passes  into  the  make-up  of  a  lens-system,  so  much  of  the  mass 
must  be  destroyed  or  discarded  during  manufacture.  In  other  words,  25 
pounds  of  good-looking,  clear  fluorite  may  produce  no  more  than  a  single 
pound  of  finished  lenses.     Hence  the  value  of  the  finished  product  comes 


OPTICAL  FLUORITE  423 

only  in  part  from  the  value  of  the  raw  fluorite  entering  into  it ;  much  of  its 
value  is  introduced  by  the  skillful  work  essential  to  its  manufacture.  These 
statements  are  to  obviate  the  assumption  that  crude  optical  fluorite  is  of 
gem-value.  In  order  to  make  the  matter  more  specific,  fluorite  qualifying 
as  optical  in  quality  is  worth  a  dollar  or  more  a  pound,  while  particularly 
large  and  fine  specimens  have  an  individual  value  of  $10  and  more  apiece. 
These  figures  are  rough  approximations  only,  designed  to  give  prospective 
producers  a  general  idea  of  what  their  product  may  be  expected  to  yield 
but  not  to  be  taken  as  quotations  of  market  prices. 

As  to  the  quantity  of  optical  fluorite  that  the  United  States  consumes 
each  year,  it  is  likewise  difficult  to  state,  as  this  depends  upon  the  quality  of 
the  crude  material.  But  as  prospective  producers  should  have  some  idea 
of  both  the  normal  and  the  potential  demand  for  their  product,  it  may  be 
assumed  for  this  purpose  that  several  hundred  pounds  of  optical  fluorite 
will  meet  the  normal  yearly  demand,  while  this  figure  can  perhaps  be  doubled 
or  even  more  greatly  increased  if  additional  supplies  can  be  reasonably 
produced. 

OCCURRENCE  OF  OPTICAL  FLUORITE 

While  ordinary  fluorite  is  of  common  occurrence  in  the  fluorite  region 
of  southern  Illinois,  it  is  only  here  and  there  that  specimens  of  optical  qual- 
ity are  found  in  association  with  the  cruder  material.  While  the  presence 
of  the  optical  fluorite  seems  to  favor  certain  specific  localities  and  to  shun 
the  large  and  extensively  worked  veins,  a  familiarity  on  the  part  of  the 
mining  men  of  the  region  with  the  requirements  for  optical  use  will  un- 
doubtedly bring  to  light  further  occurrences  of  promise. 

The  ordinary  fluorite  occurs  in  two  ways:  (1)  as  nearly  vertical  veins 
cutting  bedded  rocks  along  fault  planes,  and  (2)  as  horizontal  beds  in  part 
replacing  limestone  members  of  the  bedded  rocks.  Optical  fluorite  has  been 
found  in  association  with  each  type  of  occurrence,  but  the  second  has  thus 
far  given  the  greater  promise.  Material  of  optical  quality  is  more  likely 
to  be  found  as  cubic  crystals  occupying  the  walls  of  small  open  spaces  in 
the  veins  or  beds,  particularly  in  places  where  such  cavities  are  relatively 
numerous  and  indicate  a  leisurely  process  of  formation,  than  along  with 
fluorite  that  is  massive  or  tightly  developed  in  the  surrounding  rock. 

The  mines  and  prospects  that  have  been  determined  to  contain  material 
of  optical  quality  are  as  follows : 

The  Cave  in  Rock  mine,  near  Lead  Hill,  Hardin  County,  Illinois ;  operated 
by  the  Glass  Brick  Company,  241  Walnut  St.,  Cincinnati,  Ohio ;  a  bedded  deposit 
containing  pockets  lined  with  fluorite  crystals,  some  yielding  material  of  optical 
quality,  colorless  to  faint  yellow,  and  characterized  by  a  conspicuous  conchoidal 
fracture.  This  mine  could  probably  be  made  to  yield  from  one  hundred  to  several 
hundred  pounds  of  optical  fluorite  per  year  if  continuously  and  actively  worked. 

Several  prospects,  or  small  mines,  operating  in  1917,  on  the  west  side  of  Lead 
Hill,  in  NW.  Y\  SW.  *4  sec-  4,  T.  11   S.,  R.  9  E.,  Shawneetown  quadrangle,  contain 


424  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 

optical  fluorite  similar  in  character  to  that  described  above.  One  property  is  owned  by 
the  Lead  Hill  Lead  and  Spar  Company;  another  by  C.  M.  Miller,  Basic  Mineral  Co., 
Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

The  Pierce  mine,  in  sec.  34,  T.  11  S.,  R.  7  E.,  Equality  quadrangle,  operated  by 
H.  B.  and  Walter  Pierce,  Golconda,  Illinois,  has  made  shipments  of  optical  fluorite 
in  the  past. 

The  Rose  mine,  in  sec.  30,  T.  11  S.,  R.  8  E.,  Equality  quadrangle,  not  now  (1917) 
operated ;  owned  by  D.  C.  Peyton,  Indiana  Reformatory,  Jeffersonville,  Indiana ; 
contains  some  material  of  promise. 

LIST  OF  PROSPECTIVE  PURCHASERS 

For  the  information  of  prospective  producers  of  optical  fluorite,  the 
following  names  may  be  given  as  among  the  possible  purchasers  of  this 
material : 

Bausch  and  Lomb  Optical  Co.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

Spencer  Lens  Co.,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. 

Bureau  of  Standards,  Washington,  D.  C. 

Ward's  Natural  Science  Establishment,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

SUGGESTIONS  AS  TO  DEVELOPMENT 

The  fluorite  region  of  southern  Illinois  appears  to  be  capable  of  sup- 
plying the  needs  of  the  United  States  in  respect  to  optical  fluorite.  This 
will  be  accomplished  if  the  mining  interests  of  the  region  will  give  instruc- 
tions to  their  mining  staffs  to  search  for  and  save  all  clear,  glassy-looking 
specimens.  No  special  knowledge  is  required  to  recognize  material  of 
promise.  As  compared  with  developed  mines,  the  small  mine  or  prospect 
has  an  equal  if  not  a  better  chance  of  yielding  good  material,  and  hence  the 
matter  concerns  the  one-man  operator  as  well  as  the  larger  mining  company. 
Prospects  in  the  neighborhood  of  Lead  Hill  should  be  examined  with  par- 
ticular thoroughness,  as  this  locality  offers  more  than  ordinary  promise. 
Great  care  should  be  exercised  in  breaking  large  specimens  for  examination ; 
also  in  further  handling,  packing,  and  shipping.  Specimens  for  shipment 
should  be  packed  in  cotton,  excelsior,  or  other  resilient  material,  and  placed 
in  wooden,  and  not  pasteboard,  boxes.  Samples  of  material  of  promise 
should  be  submitted  to  prospective  purchasers  before  shipments  are  made. 
Particularly  fine  specimens  will  find  a  sale  as  single  items ;  but  the  general 
run  of  optical  fluorite  should  be  offered  for  sale  only  in  lots  of  several 
pounds  or  more. 

For  the  proper  development  of  this  resource,  which,  though  of  limited 
value  from  a  financial  standpoint,  is  of  considerable  importance  to  society, 
the  optical  companies  will  bear  in  mind  that  the  producers  must  be  encour- 
aged by  a  consistent  price  and  at  the  outset  be  helped  in  discriminating 


OPTICAL  FLUORITE  425 

between  material  of  optical  and  common  quality ;  while  the  producers  will 
appreciate  the  fact  that  they  are  handling  a  highly  specialized  product,  whose 
value  can  be  more  substantially  enhanced  by  encouraging  an  enlarged  demand 
through  a  suitable  production  than  by  limiting  the  supply  and  holding  out 
for  prices  discouraging . to  the  manufacturer. 


THE  ILLINOIS  PYRITE  INVENTORY  OF  1918 

By  G.  H.   Cady 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

National  sulphur  situation 427 

Pyrite  situation  in  Illinois 429 

Distribution  of  pyrite 429 

Form  of  occurrence 430 

Recovery    430 

Summary    431 

ILLUSTRATION 

PLATE 

III.     Map  showing  the  distribution  of  the  low-  and  high-sulphur  coals  in 

Illinois 428 


NATIONAL  SULPHUR  SITUATION 

With  the  entrance  of  the  United  States  into  the  war  in  1918  and  with 
the  reduction  in  the  importation  of  Spanish  pyrite  that  followed,  the 
increased  requirements  of  raw  material  from  domestic  sources  for  use  in 
the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid  became  a  matter  of  some  concern.  The 
production  of  sulphuric  acid  (monohydrate)  in  1917  was  about  4,300,000 
tons,  against  about  3,900,000  tons  in  1916.  We  imported  from  Spain  and 
Portugal  in  1917  about  833,000  tons  of  pyrite  which  may  be  reckoned  as 
equivalent  of  about  1,000,000  tons  of  sulphuric  acid  (monohydrate)  ;  so 
that  from  domestic  and  Canadian  resources  we  manufactured  in  1917  about 
3,300,000  tons  of  sulphuric  acid.  The  government  estimated  a  requirement 
of  5,000,000  to  5,600,000  tons  in  1918.  It  appeared  necessary,  therefore,  to 
find  raw  material  in  1918  sufficient  to  manufacture  about  2,300,000  addi- 
tional tons  of  acid. 

A  careful  review  by  government  agencies  of  the  possible  sources  of 
raw  material  revealed  what  seemed  early  in  1918  to  be  incapacity  of  then 
existing  sources  to  meet  the  probable  demand.  Sulphuric  acid  is  manufac- 
tured in  three  ways  :  from  native  sulphur  or  brimstone  ;  from  pyrites  ;  and 
as  a  by-product  in  smelting  and  refining.  In  1917  brimstone  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid  amounted  to  463,364  tons  producing  pos- 
sibly about  1,300,000  tons  of  acid  (monohydrate)  ;  from  1,257,128  tons  of 
pyrite  about  2,000,000  tons  of  acid  were  produced ;  and  by-product  acid  to 
the  amount  of  about  1,000,000  tons  was  manufactured,  mainly  in  the  west- 
ern states — a  total,  as  has  been  stated,  of  about  4,300,000  tons  With  about 
800,000  tons  of  Spanish  pyrite  cut  off  the  market  and  a  probable  additional 

427 


428  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

demand  for  raw  material  sufficient  for  about  2,300,000  tons  of  acid,  there 
was  an  apparent  need  for  the  stimulation  of  the  industry  and  the  discovery 
of  additional  sources  of  raw  material.  It  was  also  obvious  that  because  of 
the  high  freight  rates  from  the  western  smelters,  the  industry  would  have 
to  depend  largely  upon  the  brimstone  and  pyrite  producers  for  the  necessary 
raw  material. 

When  the  importations  of  Spanish  pyrite  were  restricted,  naturally  the 
acid  manufacturers  turned  to  the  most  available  source  of  supply — the  sul- 
phur or  brimstone  deposits  of  Louisiana  and  Texas,  but  it  became  a  matter 
of  doubt  whether  these  deposits  were  adequate  to  the  need. 

In  view  of  what  was  interpreted  to  be  an  impending  shortage  of 
brimstone,  the  availability  of  pyrite  resources  became  a  matter  of  in- 
vestigation. Pyrite  in  the  central  and  eastern  states  was  of  especial 
interest  because  of  its  nearness  to  the  acid  plants.  In  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try it  occurs  as  "coal  brasses"  in  coal  mines  and  as  mineral  deposits  in  cer- 
tain states  such  as  Missouri,  Virginia,  Georgia,  and  Wisconsin.  Under  the 
influence  of  interest  stimulated  by  war  committees,  such  as  the  War  Miner- 
als Committee,  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  in  cooperation  with  the  geological 
surveys  of  several  states  instituted  an  extensive  inventory  of  the  pyrite 
resources  of  the  central  and  eastern  states.  The  coal-producing  states  were 
given  special  attention,  because  of  the  recognized  importance  of  the  coal 
mines  as  the  most  probable  source  of  large  quantities  of  pyrite. 

As  a  result  of  this  investigation  carried  on  in  the  coal  fields  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  E.  A.  Holbrook,  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  it  is  now 
known  that  the  coal  mines  of  Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Indiana,  Mich- 
igan, Illinois,  and  Missouri  can  easily  furnish,  with  the  equipment  now  avail- 
able, up  to  more  than  2,000,000  tons  of  pyrite  annually,  and  that  the  mines 
of  Illinois,  on  a  very  conservative  estimate,  could  easily  produce  200,000 
tons  without  additional  equipment.  During  1917  this  State  produced  about 
24,000  tons,  an  amount  probably  not  over  1/10  of  what  it  could  easily  pro- 
duce. Indeed,  with  additional  rather  inexpensive  equipment,  the  output 
could  be  increased  very  materially  beyond  200,000  tons,  probably  nearly 
500,000  tons  annually,  a  figure  which  is  essentially  the  amount  of  the  pre-war 
demand  for  pyrite  from  domestic  sources. 

That  stimulation  of  the  pyrite  industry  has  not  resulted  from  the 
growth  of  war  industries  has  been  somewhat  of  a  surprise.  Events  have 
shown,  however,  that  the  country  possesses  larger  resources  of  brimstone 
than  could  have  been  suspected  at  the  time  the  pyrite  inventory  was  inaugu- 
rated. New  areas  have  been  opened  to  development,  and  new  wells  have 
been  drilled  on  the  original  properties,  so  that  at  the  opening  of  1919,  it 
was  a  serious  problem  to  find  a  market  for  the  prospective  production  of 
brimstone.  In  fact,  as  early  as  July,  the  War  Industries  Board  issued  the 
statement  that  there  were  above  ground  at  the  mines  in  Louisiana  and  Texas, 
over  1,000,000  tons  of  brimstone — a  sufficient  stock  for  eight  months  at  the 


ILLINOIS  PYRITE  INVENTORY 


429 


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YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 


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ILLINOIS   PYRITE  INVENTORY  429 

rate  of  120,000  tons  a  month,  which  was  approximately  the  current  demand, 
according  to  one  authority.  There  was  the  additional  uncertainty,  how- 
ever, in  regard  to  these  deposits  that  was  occasioned  by  their  location  near 
the  coast,  thereby  making  them  possible  targets  of  marauding  German  ves- 
sels that  might  escape  into  the  Gulf.  In  general,  however,  uneasiness  in 
regard  to  a  possible  sulphuric  acid  shortage  had  disappeared  in  the  latter  part 
of  the  summer,  even  before  the  pyrite  inventory  had  been  completed  in  all 
the   states. 

PYRITE  SITUATION  IN  ILLINOIS 

The  pyrite  inventory  in  Illinois,  as  well  as  in  the  other  states,  can  most 
properly  be  looked  upon  as  insurance  against  a  possible  contingency.  Yet 
so  far  as  Illinois  is  concerned,  it  will  possibly  lead  to  some  benefits  to  the 
coal  trade  on  a  peace  basis. 

It  has  been  shown  that  pyrite  can  be  recovered  at  washeries  at  a  very 
small  expense.  The  expense  involves  the  installation  and  operation  of  one 
or  two  more  jigs  where  the  refuse  is  washed  to  recover  the  pyrite,  the  refuse 
itself  being  furnished  without  cost  as  a  product  of  the  coal  washery.  At 
least  one  coal  washery  has  installed  a  pyrite-recovery  section  during  the  last 
year.     Others  would  probably  find  it  profitable  to  do  the  same. 

The  pyrite  inventory  has  also  furnished  a  more  systematic  body  of 
information  relative  to  the  distribution  and  occurrence  of  pyrite  than  here- 
tofore has  existed.  The  investigations  of  the  pyrite  resources  and  the 
search  for  low-sulphur  coal  in  connection  with  the  work  on  gas  coals  per- 
formed by  the  Gas  Section  of  the  Illinois  Mining  Investigations  have  together 
furnished  information  relative  to  the  distribution  of  sulphur  and  pyrite  that 
is  doubtless  of  sufficient  general  interest  to  warrant  brief  comment. 

Distribution  of  Pyrite 

The  accompanying  map,  Plate  III,  shows  the  Illinois  coal  basin  and 
also  the  areas  wherein  the  various  coals  are  mined. 

The  actual  sulphur  content  of  the  coals  of  the  State,  as  determined  by 
analyses  of  face  samples,  differs  in  a  conspicuous  degree  only  as  between 
coals  of  southern  Illinois  and  coals  of  central  and  northern  Illinois.  Small 
black  figures  on  the  map  show  the  average .  sulphur  content  of  the  coal  at 
about  100  representative  mines,  as  determined  by  three  or  more  analyses  of 
face  samples  at  each  mine.  There  is  possibly  a  variation  of  about  1  per 
cent  in  the  sulphur  content  among  the  coals  north  of  Jackson,  Jefferson,  and 
Saline  counties,  except  for  Mercer  and  Rock  Island  counties.  The  northern 
coals  generally  have  between  3.25  and  4  per  cent  of  sulphur,  but  the  Rock 
Island  and  Mercer  County  coal  (No.  1)  has  an  unusually  high  sulphur  con- 
tent, varying  from  4.25  to  5.02  per  cent. 

In  the  southern  counties,  Jackson,  Williamson,  southeastern  Perry, 
Saline,  and  Gallatin,  the  sulphur  content  averages  1  to  2  per  cent  less  than 


430  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

it  does  to  the  north,  varying  from  about  1  to  2.75  per  cent.  In  the  lighter 
shaded  areas  shown  on  the  map  in  Franklin,  Williamson,  and  Jackson  coun- 
ties, the  sulphur  content  averages  below  1.5  per  cent,  and  in  the  darker  area 
below  1  per  cent.  The  low  sulphur  content  of  the  southern  Illinois  coals  is 
one  special  reason  for  their  greater  desirability  among  the  coals  of  the 
State  for  domestic  as  well  as  for  gas-making  purposes.  It  should  be  stated, 
however,  that  coal  from  other  parts  of  the  State,  if  properly  prepared  at 
the  mine,  could  probably  be  used  with  equal  satisfaction  by  the  householder, 
thus  reserving  the  low-sulphur  coal  for  industrial  uses,  to  which  it  is  spe- 
cifically adapted. 

Form  of  Occurrence 

In  general,  the  low-sulphur  coals,  i.  e.,  those  containing  less  than  3  per 
cent  of  sulphur,  do  not  contain  much  pyrite  in  free  or  nodular  form,  and 
therefore  very  little  recoverable  pyrite.  And  the  higher  sulphur  coals, 
although  they  all  contain  free  pyrite  in  some  form,  do  not  always  contain 
it  in  recoverable  form.  Its  ease  of  recovery  may  in  fact  be  taken  as  an 
index  of  the  ease  with  which  clean  coal  can  be  furnished  at  the  shaft  head. 
The  ease  of  recovery,  furthermore,  can  by  no  means  be  inferred  from  the 
coal  analysis,  but  can  be  determined  only  by  an  inspection  of  the  coal  at 
the   face  in  the  mine. 

Most  of  the  pyrite  occurs  in  one  of  three  forms:  (1)  as  nodules  or 
balls;  (2)  as  sheets  or  thin  lenses  in  the  parting  between  benches;  and  (3) 
as  lenticular  masses  fingering  laterally  into  the  coal.  Coals  differ  somewhat 
characteristically  in  regard  to  the  form  of  pyrite  most  commonly  found  in 
each  bed.  Thus,  No.  2  coal  in  northern  Illinois  has  free  pyrite  most  com- 
monly in  the  form  of  nodules  of  brassy,  metallic-like,  massive  sulphide. 
No.  5  coal  in  the  Peoria-Springfield  district  has  pyrite  balls  of  the  same 
sort  in  the  upper  coal,  but  more  characteristic  are  what  are  known  as  the 
brown  or  gray  sulphur  lenses.  These  are  lenticular  or  irregular  masses  of 
banded  stony  pyrite  that  finger  laterally  into  the  coal.  No.  6  coal  is  dis- 
tinctly a  bedded  coal,  separated  into  three  or  more  persistent  benches.  The 
pyrite  is  most  commonly  found  as  plates  or  thin  lenses  in  the  parting  between 
the  benches.  No.  7  coal  carries  a  large  amount  of  pyrite  as  irregular  lenses 
of  massive  stony  sulphide  much  like  that  found  in  No.  5  coal,  but  not  com- 
monly banded. 

Recovery 

Pyrite  can  be  recovered  in  two  places :  at  the  coal  face  by  the  miner 
and  loader ;  and  at  the  tipple  either  by  pickers,  or  by  mechanical  dry  separa- 
tion or  by  washing  the  coal.  Recovery  at  the  tipple  is  probably  the  most 
efficient  method,  but  the  coal  should  also  be  picked  at  the  face  to  remove 
the  larger  pyrite  nodules,  if  the  pyrite  is  to  be  marketed. 

The  ease  of  recoverability  of  the  different  forms  of  pyrite  varies.  The 
more  easily  the  pyrite  can  be  recovered,  the  cleaner  the  coal  that  can  be 


ILLINOIS  PYRITE  INVENTORY  431 

produced  without  special  facilities  for  treatment  at  the  tipple.  Large  nodules 
of  bright  pyrite  such  as  are  found  in  No.  2  coal  are  easily  seen  by  the  miner, 
and  relatively  easily  removed.  Irregular  lenticular  masses  '"frozen"  to  the 
coal,  such  as  are  found  in  No.  5  and  No.  7  coals,  are  not  readily  removed, 
and  the  miner  is  too  much  inclined  to  throw  chunks  of  coal  containing  such 
lenses  into  the  car,  risking  possible  discovery  at  the  tipple,  and  the  resulting 
fine.  Too  frequently  this  is  a  very  slight  risk.  Sheet  pyrite  is  easily  hand- 
picked  when  thick  enough  to  resist  the  shattering  incident  to  mining.  When 
thin,  however,  it  breaks  into  small  pieces  and  forms  accordingly  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  fine  coal  or  screenings  and  can  be  removed  only  by 
mechanical  separation  of   some  sort. 

If  pyrite  is  to  be  considered  as  an  impurity  to  be  discarded  rather  than 
a  commodity  to  be  saved,  as  apparently  it  must  continue  to  be  regarded  until 
its  recovery  becomes  a  matter  of  economic  importance,  the  investigations 
have  indicated  that  more  systematic  efforts  than  have  been  in  force  in  the 
past  should  be  instituted  to  eliminate  this  material  from  the  coal  before  it 
is  furnished  to  the  public.  Certainly  the  material  has  not  been  removed 
from  the  coal  nearly  as  effectively  as  it  might  be,  nor  possibly  have  the 
means  adopted  in  individual  cases  been  especially  applicable  to  the  form  of 
pyrite  present.  Some  blame  attaches  to  the  miner  for  not  obeying  the  rules 
and  to  the  operator  for  not  enforcing  the  rules  in  regard  to  clean  coal.  But 
a  large  part  of  the  blame  attaches  to  the  general  public  in  not  insisting  that 
all  coal  be  subjected  to  some  adequate  form  of  preparation  at  the  tipple. 

SUMMARY 

The  pyrite  inventory  in  Illinois  has  served  its  immediate  purpose  of 
furnishing  the  nation  definite  data  concerning  its  supply  of  one  of  the  essen- 
tial war  minerals.  Aside  from  furnishing  desired  information  along  the 
original  lines  of  the  investigation,  the  pyrite  inventory  has  some  economic 
bearing  upon  the  industry  in  the  normal  times  of  peace.  In  connection 
with  search  for  low-sulphur  coal,  it  has  effected  a  definite  delineation  of 
areas  of  coal  suitable  for  special  purposes,  such  as  the  manufacture  of 
metallurgical  coke  and  city  gas.  It  has  also  furnished  information  relative 
to  the  varieties  of  free  pyrite  found  in  the  higher  sulphur  coals  which  pos- 
sibly may  lead  to  a  better  understanding  of  the  various  conditions  affecting 
the  production  of  clean  coal  at  the  shaft  head.  This  information  is  prelimi- 
nary to  a  more  systematic  adaptation  of  the  means  of  cleaning  coal  to  the 
varying  conditions  of  occurrence  of  the  impurities,  the  elimination  of  which 
is  desired.  The  pyrite  inventory  was  an  investigation  conducted  to  safe- 
guard the  public.  It  had  uncertain  commercial  application  and  was  of  such 
a  nature  that  private  capital  could  only  with  difficulty  have  been  found  to 
carry  it  through.  It  is  such  services  that  can  best  be  accomplished  with 
public  funds  such  as  are  allotted  to  the  State  Geological  Survey. 


432 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 


R.1E. 


2^  4  6 

Scale  in  miles 


Coal  containing    Coal  containing 
less  than  1  per       less  than  1.25  per 
cent  sulphur.  cent  sulphur. 

Fig.   58.     Location    of   the   area   of   low-sulphur   coal   in    Illinois. 


LOW-SULPHUR  COAL  IN  ILLINOIS1 

By  Gilbert  H.   Cady 

Extensive  sampling  of  coal  in  Illinois  during  the  past  ten  or  twelve 
years  by  the  State  Geological  Survey  in  cooperation  with  various  organiza- 
tions, such  as  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  the  University  of  Illinois,  and 
the  Illinois  Cooperative  Mining  Investigations  has  made  possible  the  delinea- 
tion of  two  areas  of  low-sulphur  coal  in  Illinois,  both  areas  being  located  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  State.  The  sulphur  content  of  these  coals  is  less 
than  1.25  per  cent,  so  that  if  otherwise  suitable,  they  can  be  employed  for 
metallurgical  uses  and  for  the  manufacture  of  water-gas  and  retort  gas. 
One  of  these  areas  is  small  and  lies  in  Jackson  County  near  Murphysboro  ; 
the  other  is  much  larger  and  includes  a  large  part  of  the  famous  Franklin 
County  field. 

A  small  area  of  No.  2  or  Murphysboro  coal  has  been  worked  for  many 
years  near  the  town  of  Murphysboro,  Jackson  County,  Illinois.  In  two 
mines,  at  least,  operating  in  this  field  the  coal  has  a  sulphur  content  of  less 
than  1.25  per  cent.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  whether  this  field  will  ever  be 
a  source  of  large  tonnage  of  low-sulphur  coal,  as  the  total  area  underlain  by 
this  coal  in  workable  thickness  is  probably  less  than  fifteen  square  miles, 
and  a  large  part  of  it  has  already  been  worked  out. 

The  location  of  the  area  of  low-sulphur  coal  in  the  Franklin  County 
field  is  shown  in  the  accompanying  map  (fig.  58).  The  small  area  underlain 
by  the  Murphysboro  low-sulphur  coal  is  shown  near  the  town  of  that  name 
in  the  central  part  of  Jackson  County.  The  larger  area  lies  in  the  west 
side  of  Franklin  County,  extending  also  about  six  miles  south  into  Wil- 
liamson County,  about  four  miles  west  into  northern  Jackson  and  western 
Perry  County,  and  northward  an  undertermined  distance  into  Jefferson 
County.  All  but  the  northern  limit  of  the  area  is  fairly  well  defined  by 
sampling  in  numerous  mines.  The  inner  cross-lined  area  is  underlain  by 
coal  having  less  than  1  per  cent  sulphur ;  the  outer  boundary  surrounds  the 
area  underlain  by  coal  having  less  than  1.25  per  cent  sulphur. 

The  coal  mined  in  the  district  is  No.  6  or  Herrin  coal,  commonly  known 
as  the  Carterville  or  Franklin  County  coal.  The  bed  has  a  thickness  vary- 
ing from  about  eight  feet  on  the  border  of  the  lower  sulphur  area  up  to 
more  than  ten  feet  in  the  central  portions,  locally  having  a  thickness  of  four- 
teen to  fifteen  feet.     The  sulphur  content  in  general  decreases  as  the  thick- 


iThis  is  a  reprint  of  a  paper  presented  by  Mr.  Cady  before  the  American  Institute  of 

Mining  and  Metallurgical  Engineers,  at  their  Chicago  Meeting,  September,  1919.     The  paper 

was  first  published  in  1920  in  Vol.  LXIII,  pp.   641-643  of  the  Transactions  of  that  society. 

Analyses  of  many  Illinois  coals  and  additional   information  on  low-sulphur  coal  will 

be  found  in  the  following  bulletins  obtainable  from  the  State  Geological  Survey  : 

Parr.  S.  W.,  Purchase  and  Sale  of  Illinois  Coal  on  Specification  :    111.  State  Geol.   Sur- 
vey Bull.   29,   1914. 
Cadv,  G.  H.,  Mines  producing  low-sulphur  coal  in  the  central  district :    111.  Co-operative 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.   23,   1919. 

433 


434  YEAR   BOOK   FOR   1917  AND   1918 

ness  of  the  coal  increases.  A  further  peculiarity  is  a  variation  of  the  char- 
acter of  the  roof  accompanying  the  variation  in  thickness,  for  near  and  be- 
yond the  border  of  the  low-sulphur  area  there  is  a  limestone  cap  rock  within 
about  twenty-five  feet  of  the  bed,  whereas  the  cap-rock  is  either  absent  or  at 
a  much  greater  height  above  the  coal  in  the  central  part  of  the  area.  This 
relationship  between  the  roof  rock,  the  thickness  of  the  coal,  and  the  amount 
of  sulphur  present  seems  to  hold  consistently  throughout  the  field.  There 
is  also  a  decrease  in  the  interval  between  No.  6  and  No.  5  coals  and  an 
increase  between  No.  6  and  No.  9  coals  operating  geographically  across  the 
Franklin  County  field  the  same  as  the  decrease  in  the  sulphur  content.1 
These  stratigraphic  variations  accompanying  the  chemical  variation  make 
it  possible  to  estimate  roughly  the  character  of  the  coal  even  from  drill 
records  and  to  determine  the  approximate  extension  of  the  field  in  areas 
not  yet  mined. 


iCady,  G.  H.,  Coal  resources  of  District  VI :     111.  Co-operative  Mining-  Investigations' 
Bull.  15,  pp.  29-47,  1916. 


NOTES  ON  POTASH  POSSIBILITIES  IN  ILLINOIS 

By  C.  R.  Schroyer 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Greensand  deposits  of  southern  Illinois 435 

Potash  as  a  by-product  in  cement  manufacture 437 

Processes   in   use 437 

Illinois  shales  of  possible  interest  in  cement  and  potash  production 437 

Chemical  character    • 437 

Notes  on  occurrence 439 

TABLES 

45.  Partial  chemical  analysis  of  Illinois  greensand 435 

46.  Potash  content  of  Illinois  shales 437 

47.  Comparison  of  Illinois  shale  constituents  with  reference  to  their  cement- 

making  properties    438 

GREENSAND  DEPOSITS  OF  SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS 
A  bed  of  greensand  has  been  found  in  Pulaski  County,  two  miles  above 
Olmsted,  on  the  farm  of  James  A.  Barber  in  sec.  13,  T.  15  S.,  R.  1  E.  Other 
beds  are  present,  as  shown  by  wash  from  partially  covered  cliffs  in  the  same 
vicinity,  as  well  as  by  reliable  reports  of  deposits  covered  by  water  at  the 
time  of  the  examination.  Such  deposits  were  also  mentioned  at  "Chalk 
Bank,"  a  cliff  facing  Ohio  River  on  the  Barber  farm,  and  at  Hillerman's 
Landing,  in  sec.  16,  T.  15  S.,  R.  3  E.,  Massac  County. 

A  section  measured  in  a  ravine  three-quarters  of  a  mile  back  from 
Chalk  Bank  is  as  follows : 

Section  of  greensand  on  the  Barber  farm,  near  Olmsted  Feet 

Clay  shale  of  a  drab  color 10 

Greensand ;  grades  into  clay  shale  above 4 

Conglomerate  and  sand,  small  quartz  pebbles  cemented  by  iron 1 

Greensand  with  few  quartz  pebbles 3^ 

Clay  shale,  impure 3 

This  bed  is  well  above  the  highest  water  mark  and  fifty  to  sixty  feet 
above  the  low-water  level  in  Ohio  River.  It  is  also  exposed  in  several  of 
the  near-by  gullies.  Tunneling  would  be  the  most  economical  way  of  recov- 
ering the  greensand,  although  considerable  quantities  could  be  obtained  by 
shallow  surface  workings. 

Chemical  analysis  by  the  Department  of  Chemistry  of  the  University 
of  Illinois  gave  the  following  results : 

Table  45. — Partial  chemical  analysis  of  Illinois  greensand  Percent 

Si02    74.76 

K26    6.22 

CaO  48 

In  a  separate  determination  made  by  the  Department  of  Agronomy  the 
phosphoric  acid  content  was  found  to  be  about  1/10  of  1  per  cent. 

435 


436  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

New  Jersey  greensand  has  higher  phosphoric  acid  and  calcium  car- 
bonate content,  but  averages  lower  in  silica,  and  about  the  same  in  potash. 
The  richer  New  Jersey  beds  analyze  from  5  to  7  per  cent  of  potash,  but 
many  beds  contain  as  low  as  3  per  cent  or  less.1 

Samples  from  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  yield  from  3.50  to  7.15  per 
cent  of  potash ;  from  Maryland,  4.45  per  cent,  or  less ;  from  Virginia,  sam- 
ples rich  in  lime  yield  2  to  2.5  per  cent ;  from  North  Carolina,  2.96  per  cent 
or  less ;  and  those  from  Arkansas,  4.90  per  cent  or  less.  The  phosphoric 
acid  content  ranges  from  .62  to  7.35  per  cent,  generally  being  about  1.5  per 
cent.  All  modern  analyses  indicate  that  glauconite  contains  only  7  to  8  per 
cent  of  potash.2 

The  total  thickness  of  this  deposit  is  not  known,  nor  the  thickness  of 
any  but  one  of  the  higher  beds.  Shallow  drilling  might  well  be  expected  to 
show  an  Illinois  deposit  of  such  extent  and  location  as  to  attract  potash 
producers,  once  that  industry  has  passed  the  present  experimental  stage. 
It  is  unlikely  that  the  thickness  of  the  deposit  will  approach  that  of  the 
New  Jersey  beds,  many  of  which  are  twenty  or  more  feet  thick.  However, 
very  few  of  the  thicker  beds  in  New  Jersey  are  rich  in  potash. 

According  to  information  furnished  by  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey  and  by  H.  B.  Kummel,  State  Geologist  of  New  Jersey,  three  com- 
panies are  now  producing  or  preparing  to  produce  potash  from  greensand : 
the  American  Potash  Company  (formerly  the  Kaolin  Products  Corpora- 
tion), at  Jones  Point,  New  York;  the  Atlantic  Potash  Company,  of  Stock - 
erton,  Pennsylvania ;  and  a  third  company  with  Dr.  F.  Tschirner  in  charge, 
at  Medford,  New  Jersey.  None  of  these  companies  has  progressed  far 
beyond  the  experimental  stage. 

Various  processes  are  being  tried  for  the  recovery  of  the  potash.  The 
Atlantic  Potash  Company  extracts  by  the  Von  Kolnitz  process.  In  brief, 
this  consists  of  heating  the  marl  with  calcium  chloride  in  rotary  kilns,  the 
leaching  of  the  resulting  potassium  chloride  from  the  calcined  mass,  and 
finally  its  precipitation.  Another  process  consists  of  digesting  under  pres- 
sure finely  ground  greensand  with  lime  and  water,  thereby  obtaining  caustic 
potash  of  remarkable  purity,  and  at  the  same  time  converting  the  residue 
into  a  material  of  value  for  sand-lime  brick.  The  operation  is  carried  out 
with  high-pressure  steam  (225  pounds  for  2  to  14  hours).  It  has  developed 
from  this  process  that  greensand  does  not  react  like  a  true  potassium-iron- 
silicate,  but  that  it  is  probably  a  potassium-iron  compound  involving  free 
silica,  but  not  a  silicate.  From  70  to  80  per  cent  of  the  total  potash  is  con- 
sidered a  satisfactory  yield.  The  residue  is  to  a  degree  self-cementing,  and 
when  subjected  to  steam  pressure  cements  sand  so  firmly  that  small  enclosed 
pebbles  fracture  before  the  bond  gives  way.  Sand-lime  brick,  the  impor- 
tant by-product,  are  of  good  quality  and  find  a  ready  market. 


lTRenorts  of  the  G^olo^ical   Survey  of  New  Jersey. 

2Ashley,  Geo.  H.,  TJ.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Bull.   660-B,  p.  29,   1917. 


ILLINOIS  POTASH    POSSIBILITIES  437 

POTASH  AS  A  BY-PRODUCT  IN  CEMENT  MANUFACTURE 

Processes  in  Use 

Potash  has  also  been  produced  from  cement  dust  by  the  Cottrell1  proc- 
ess. This  consists,  in  brief,  of  catching  and  concentrating  the  volatilized 
potash  by  the  electrical  precipitation  of  the  dust  in  cement  mills.  Further 
concentration  is  accomplished  by  reburning  the  accumulated  dust  with  suf- 
ficient raw  material  to  balance  the  feed. 

Other  processes  have  been  proposed '}  One  by  S.  B.  Newberry  is 
based  on  the  principle  that  the  alkali  content  in  cement  clinker  is  practically 
constant,  irrespective  of  the  proportion  of  alkalies  in  the  raw  mixture.  This 
content  may  be  reduced  to  a  minimum  by  increasing  both  the  temperature 
and  the  time  of  exposure  to  high  heat  beyond  that  ordinarily  employed.  A 
large  part  of  the  alkali  may  be  recovered  from  the  stack  gases  by  bringing 
them  into  intimate  contact  with  sprays  of  water  or  by  passing  the  gases 
through  a  space  fitted  with  porous  material,  the  surfaces  of  which  are  kept 
wet  with  water.  The  smaller  part  of  the  alkali,  which  is  soluble,  is  removed 
from  the  resultant  mix,  and  the  insoluble  mud  is  recharged  into  the  kiln 
with  fresh  raw  material,  thus  increasing  the  alkali  content  of  the  stack 
gases  and  the  relative  amount  of  soluble  alkali  in  the  water-chilled  solu- 
tion. Another  process,  originated  by  Samuel  Peacock,1  consists  in  treating 
the  flue  dust  with  a  hot  monocalcium  phosphate  solution,  thereby  obtaining 
potassium  phosphate  and  calcium  silicate. 

Illinois  Shales  of  Possible  Interest  in  Cement  and  Potash 

Production 

chemical  character 

The  interest  which  this  possibility  for  potash  production  may  have  to 
Illinois  cement  producers  is  evident  from  the  analyses  of  the  following 
shales,  most  of  which  are  suitable  for  use  in  Portland  cement. 

Tarle  46. — Potash  content  of  Illinois  shales  Potash  (KoO) 

Location  Percent 

Alton    3.28 

Albion     3.82 

Springfield    2.88 

Edwardsville 2.03 

Galesburg    2.60 

Streator    2.80 

Danville   2.90 

Danville   2.94 

Jcnesboro- 5.48 

Dixon    5.8 

iPhalen,  W.  G.,  Min.  Resources  of  U.  S.,  1915,  Pt.  II,  pp.  122-124. 
^Average  of  nine  samples. 


438 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 


The  first  eight  analyses  given  above  are  reprinted  from  a  report  by 
A.  V.  Bleininger.1  The  last  two  are  taken  from  a  joint  publication  of  the 
Division  of  Applied  Chemistry  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  the  Illinois 
State  Geological  Survey,  and  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station.2  In  this 
publication  Parr  and  Austin  have  the  following  to  say  about  the  potash 
possibilities  of  Illinois  shale  in  general  and  about  the  Jonesboro  black  shale 
in  particular: 

''The  Illinois  shales  that  we  are  here  considering,  instead  of  having  an 
average  potash  content  of  2  or  even  2y2  per  cent,  have  a  content  of  5  per 
cent  in  the  raw  state.  They  compare,  therefore,  very  favorably  with  the 
greensands  of  New  Jersey,  concerning  which  not  a  little  consideration  is 
now  being  given  both  in  the  literature  and  financially,  as  a  possible  source 
of  supply  for  this  important  product.3  The  first  question  that  naturally 
arises,  therefore,  relates  to  the  suitability  of  these  Illinois  shales  with  ref- 
erence to  their  main  constituents  for  the  purpose  of  compounding  into  a 
suitable  cement  mix.  The  best  authority  on  this  phase  of  the  topic  is 
Professor  A.  V.  Bleininger,  who  in  his  study  of  Illinois  shales  for  cement- 
making,4  gives  analyses  for  eight  samples  which  he  deems  suitable  for  such 
a  purpose. 

"They  show  so  little  variation  in  composition  that  for  purposes  of 
illustration  in  this  discussion  they  may  be  fairly  represented  by  an  average 
value  for  each  constituent.  These  values  are  given  in  the  second  column 
of  Table  47.  For  comparison,  therefore,  as  to  their  suitability  along  cement 
lines,  two  of  the  high-potash  shales  are  shown  in  parallel  columns  3  and  4. 


Table  47. — Comparison  of  Illinois  shale  constituents  with  reference  to  their  cement- 
making  properties 


Average  of  eight 

Illinois  shales 

(Bleininger) 

Sample  No.  1 

Illinois  potash 

shales 

Sample  No.  2 

Illinois  potash 

shales 

Si02 

A1203 

Per  cent 
61.56 
16.12 
2.96 
3.52 
0.94 
1.79 
2.90 
0.82 
6.72 

Per  cent 
53.8 
17.7 
5.85 

0.7 
1.8 
5.0 
0,5 
11.9 

Per  cent 
55.0 
16.3 

Fe203 

FeO 

6.05 

CaO 

MgO 

K20 

Na20 

0.3 
1.5 
4.9 
0.4 

Ignition  loss 

13.0 

iBleininger,  A.  V.,  Portland  cement  resources  of  Illinois  :  111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
17,  p.   101,   1912. 

?Parr,  S.  W.,  Austin,  M.  M.,  Krey,  Frank,  and  Stewart,  Robert,  Potash  shales  of  Illi- 
nois:     University  of  Illinois  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bull.  232,  March,  1921. 

3Chem.  and  Met.  Eng.,  22,  815,  1920. 

4111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  17,  p.  101,  1912. 

STotal  iron  calculated  to  FeoOs. 


ILLINOIS  POTASH    POSSIBILITIES  439 

''Probably  the  most  characteristic  feature  of  this  table  from  the  cement- 
making  standpoint  is  the  ratio  between  the  silica  (SiCte)  and  the  alumina 
(AI2O3).  According  to  the  average  American  practice,  this  ratio  should 
fall  between  2.5  and  3.5.  Upon  calculating  these  ratios  for  shale  samples 
Nos.  1  and  2  of  the  table,  we  have: 

Shale  No.    1  5i-    =3.02 


Shale  No.   2 


17.7 
55.0 
16.3 


3.37 


"Hence,  it  is  evident  that  on  the  basis  of  the  silica-alumnia  ratio  the 
two  samples  of  the  potash  shales  under  consideration  are  seen  to  be  in  the 
most  advantageous  zone. 

"Since,  in  the  process  of  compounding  to  produce  a  suitable  cement 
clinker,  a  shale  is  mixed  with  from  two  to  three  times  its  weight  of  lime- 
stone, it  follows  that  the  percentage  of  K2O  in  the  raw  mix  is  correspond- 
ingly reduced.  In  the  average  American  practice  this  factor  amounts  to 
from  0.7  to  1.0  per  cent,  and  on  this  basis  with  a  66^3  per  cent  recovery  of 
the  total  potash  there  would  result  an  average  yield  of  about  2.9  pounds 
of  K2O  per  barrel  of  cement  made.  On  the  same  basis  the  potash  shales 
as  given  in  columns  3  and  4  of  Table  47  should  show  a  yield  of  5.4  pounds 
per  barrel. 

"On  this  basis,  estimating  the  price  of  potash  at  15  cents  per  pound, 
the  shales  here  studied  would  return  a  value  for  the  potash  recovery  alone 
of  82  cents  per  barrel  of  cement  made,  as  against  19^  cents  recovery  from 
the  average  potash  content  of  the  ordinary  raw  cement  mix." 

In  this  same  connection  Parr  and  Austin  make  the  statement  that 
although  the  potash  of  the  Dixon  shale  is  held  in  chemical  combination  in 
a  somewhat  different  manner  than  is  that  of  the  Jonesboro  shale,  "it  is  true 
that  in  the  process  of  cement  manufacture  the  potash  would  be  equally 
recoverable  in  either  case." 

NOTES  ON   OCCURRENCE 

The  eight  Illinois  shales  used  for  the  averages  in  column  2  of  Table  47 
are  all  of  Pennsylvanian  age.  Such  shales  are  widely  distributed  through- 
out the  Illinois  coal  basin. 

The  Dixon  shale  is  the  green  Decorah  shale  of  Ordovician  age.  This 
shale  is  of  variable  thickness,  ranging  from  a  few  inches  to  25  feet,  and  is 
generally  to  be  expected  at  its  proper  horizon  at  the  top  of  the  St.  Peter 
sandstone  just  below  the  base  of  the  Platteville  limestone.  Another  thin 
horizon  of  greensand  has  been  noted  between  the  base  of  the  St.  Peter  sand- 
stone and  the  top  of  the  Lower  Magnesian  limestone.  Both  of  these  hori- 
zons are  broken  and  irregular  in  distribution  and  thickness  because  of  the 


440  YEAR   BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

unconformable  relation  of  the  St.  Peter  sandstone  both  above  and  below. 
One  section  along  Pecumsaugan  Creek,  La  Salle  County,  according  to  field 
notes  of  Gilbert  H.  Cady,  shows  two  feet  three  inches  of  such  clay,  with 
occasional  lenses  through  a  vertical  section  of  nine  and  a  half   feet. 

The  shale  from  the  vicinity  of  Jonesboro  is  the  Devonian  (Mountain 
Glen)  shale  which  is  35  to  40  feet  thick  as  it  outcrops  a  mile  or  two  west  of 
a  line  between  the  towns  of  Jonesboro  and  Mountain  Glen,  in  a  narrow  belt 
seven  miles  long.  Although  in  most  places  either  the  outcrop  is  in  a  com- 
paratively inaccessible  position  or  else  the  overburden  is  of  prohibitive 
thickness,  there  are  several  localities  where  the  shale  might  be  economically 
mined.  In  Part  II  of  Bulletin  232  previously  cited,  a  more  extensive  descrip- 
tion of  the  occurrence  of  the  shale  and  the  feasibility  of  its  production,  will 
be  found.1 


iKrey,   Frank.   Geology,   distribution,   and   occurrence  of  the  potash-bearing  shale   oi 
Union  County:    Agricultural  Experiment  Station  Bull.  232,  Part  II,  pp.  237-243,  1921. 


NOTES  ON  ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES,  INCLUDING 
RESULTS  OF  THEIR  EXPERIMENTAL  DISTILLATION 

Compiled  by  N.  O.  Barrett 


OUTLINE  page 

Introduction     442 

Summary    444 

Jo  Daviess  County 444 

Character  and  distribution  of  oil  rock 444 

Results  of  analysis 444 

Origin  of  oil-rock 447 

Fulton   County    s 448 

Schuyler  County 448 

Source   of   samples 448 

Results  of  analysis 449 

Sangamon  County 449 

Source   of   sample 449 

Results  of  analysis 450 

Moultrie  County   450 

Source  of  sample 450 

Results   of  analysis 450 

Gallatin   County    45i 

Source  of  sample 451 

Results  of  analysis 451 

Hardin  County  451 

Union  County  451 

Introduction     451 

Location  and  topography 451 

Stratigraphic  relations   452 

Character  and  distribution  of  the  shale 452 

Source  of  samples 452 

Results  of  tests     453 

Johnson  County   453 

Introduction     453 

Location    and    topography 454 

Stratigraphic  relations   455 

The  oil  shale  455 

Description     455 

Distribution    456 

Present  use    457 

Source  and  description  of  samples 457 

Results  of  tests   458 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

59.  Index   map  showing  the  location  of   shales  and  cannel   coals  of   Illinois, 

about  which  some  information  is  available  regarding  the  amount  of 

oil  they  would  produce  upon  destructive  distillation 443 

60.  Map  showing  distribution  of  the  oil  rock  in  Jo  Daviess  County  and  an 

adjoining  area  in  Iowa  and  Wisconsin 445 

441 


442  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

FIGURE  PAGE 

61.  Sketch  map  based  on  work  of  G.  H.  Cady,  showing  the  oil-shale  outcrop 

near  Ozark  in  Johnson  County 454 

62.  Photograph   of    the   outcrop   of   the   Ozark   oil    shale   and   the   overlying 

chocolate-colored  shale,  in  the  SW.  VA  NW.  YA  NW.  YA  sec.  35,  T.  11 

S.,  R.  4  E.,  Johnson  County 455 

TABLES 

48.  Analysis  of  gas  from  oil  rock  of  Dugdale  prospect,  Jo  Daviess  County 445 

49.  Analysis  of  oil-rock  from  the  Capitola  and  Big  Jack  mines,  Jo  Daviess 

County    445 

50.  Composition  of  average  gas  collected  from  distillation  of  Platteville,  Wis- 

consin, oil-rock   445 

51.  Quantitative  results  of  distillation  of  Platteville  oil-rock 447 

52.  Results  of  preliminary  analysis  and  distillation  tests  on  Schuyler  County 

shales    449 

53.  Distillation  products  of  oil  shale  from  SW.  }i  sec.  12,  T.  1  N.,  R.  1  W., 

Schuyler  County   " 449 

54.  Distillation  products  of  a  Sangamon  County  shale 450 

55.  Results   of   preliminary   analysis   and   distillation   tests   of   the   Lovington 

roof  shale,  Moultrie  County 450 

56.  Distillation   products  of   Lovington  roof    shale 450 

57.  Distillation  products  of  a  Gallatin  County  shale 451 

58.  Results    of    preliminary    analysis    and    distillation    tests    of    four    Union 

County  shales  453 

59.  Yield  of  gas  and  tar  from  two  Union  County  shales 453 

60.  Results  of  preliminary  analysis  and  distillation  tests  on  four  samples  of 

shale  from  Ozark,  Johnson  County 458 

61.  Yield  of  oil  and  by-products  from  two  samples  of  the  Ozark  shale  from 

J  ohnsbn  County   459 

62.  Results  of  analysis  of  shale-tar  oils  obtained  by  distillation  of  two  sam- 

ples of  the  Ozark  shale  from  Johnson  County 459 

63.  Results  of  analysis  of  the  gases  obtained  by  distillation  of  two  samples 

of  the  Ozark  shale  from  Johnson  County 460 

64.  Results  of  analysis  of  the  light  oils  taken  from  the  gases  yielded  by  two 

Ozark  shale  samples  from  Johnson  County 460 

INTRODUCTION 

Not  infrequently  the  Survey  receives  inquiries  about  the  possible  value 
of  Illinois  shales  and  cannel  coals  as  sources  of  oil  and  gas,  and  it  is  to  satisfy 
such  inquiries  that  this  paper  has  been  compiled.  Deposits  of  assured  com- 
mercial value  are  unknown,  but  certain  of  them  have  been  carefully  tested 
and  have  proved  so  promising  that  publication  of  the  results,  together  with 
notes  on  other  miscellaneous  deposits  is  considered  worth  while. 

The  sources  of  the  information  are  various,  but  full  references  are 
given  in  the  footnotes,  and  acknowledgment  is  here  made  of  the  free  use  of 
the  reports  and  notes  on  which  the  compilation  is  based. 

Many  of  the  black  and  dark-brown  shales  of  Illinois  owe  their  color 
to  their  content  of  bituminous  or  carbonaceous  material  and  most  of  them, 
if  heated,  will  yield  oil,  gas,  and  other  similar  products,  at  least  in  small 
amounts.     Strictly  speaking,  the  term  "oil  shale"  should  probably  be  reserved 


ILLTXOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES 


443 


ILLINOIS 


Fig.   59.     Index   map   showing  the   location   of   shales   and   cannel   coals   in    Illinois,   about 

which  some  information  is  available  regarding  the  amount  of  oil  they 

would  produce  upon  destructive  distillation. 


444  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

for  carbonaceous  shales  which  are  rich  enough  to  have  possible  commercial 
value  as  sources  of  oil  and  gas.  In  this  report,  however,  the  term  "oil  shale" 
is  used  in  a  very  general  way,  as  most  of  the  deposits  described  do  not  have 
a  sufficient  content  of  hydrocarbon  to  deserve  the  name,  and  might  better 
be  called  simply  carbonaceous  or  bituminous  black  shale. 

SUMMARY 

In  Illinois  dark  brown  or  black  carbonaceous  or  bituminous  shales  are 
found  to  some  extent  in  the  Ordovician  and  Devonian  systems,  but  it  is  in 
rocks  of  the  Pennsylvania!!  system  that  such  shales  are  particularly  wide- 
spread and  abundant.  Figure  59  shows  the  outlines  of  the  area  underlain 
by  Pennsylvanian  strata,  and  therefore  the  area  in  which  black  shales  similar 
to  those  described  for  Schuyler,  Sangamon,  and  Moultrie  counties  are  not 
uncommon.  Apparently,  however,  it  is  only  locally,  as  in  Johnson  County, 
that  the  Pennsylvanian  black  shales  approach  commercial  value  as  sources 
of  oil  and  gas. 

The  outcropping  Ordovician  bituminous  shales  are  merely  a  local  devel- 
opment and  are  too  thin  to  be  of  value ;  and  the  Devonian  black  shales  of 
Union  County  will  probably  be  of  considerably  more  value  as  a  source  of 
potash1  than  as  oil  shale. 

All  the  available  information  about  such  Illinois  shales  as  have  been 
tested  is  covered  in  the  following  pages.  For  convenience  the  material  is 
arranged  by  counties. 

JO  DAVIESS  COUNTY-3 

Character  and  Distribution  of  the  Oil  Rock 

The  general  distribution  of  the  bed  known  commonly  to  drillers  in 
extreme  northwestern  Illinois  as  "the  oil-rock"  is  shown  in  figure  60.  It  is 
a  laminated  bituminous  shale  which  when  wet  is  light  gray.  Seldom  is  it 
much  more  than  a  foot  thick  though  in  an  abandoned  mine  two  miles  west 
of  Platteville  it  reaches  its  maximum  known  thickness  of  three  feet. 

Results  of  Tests 

"The  oil-rock  is  very  porous  and  light,  having  a  specific  gravity  of  only 
1.98  and  yielding  gas  bubbles  when  placed  in  water.  One  volume  of  the  rock 
gave  57.46  volumes  of  gas  when  heated  to  a  red  heat  in  a  vacuum  for  two 
hours.     A  gas  analysis  of  this  material  gave  the  following  results : 


iParr,  S.  W.,  and  Austin,  M.  M.,  Potash  shales  of  Illinois  ;  Krey,  Frank,  Geology,  dis- 
tribution, and  occurrence  in  Union  County ;  Stewart,  Robert,  Finely  ground  shale  as  a 
source  of  potassium  for  soil  improvement:     Univ.  of  111.  Ag.  Exp.  Sta.  Bull.  232,  1921. 

2Cox,  G.  H.,  Lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  northwestern  Illinois:  111.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  21.  pp.  24-30,  1914. 

STrowbridge,  A.  C,  and  Shaw,  E.  W.,  Geology  and  geography  of  the  Galena  and  Eliza- 
beth quadrangles:      111.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  26,  pp.   45-47,   1916. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES 


445 


IOWA 


'Freeport 


T.25N.       ILLINOIS 


Fig.    60.      Map   showing  distribution   of  the   oil    rock   in    Jo   Daviess   County   and 
an  adjoining  area   in   Iowa  and  Wisconsin. 


Table  48. — Analysis  of  gas  from  oil-rock  of  Dugdale  prospect 

Hydrocarbon  vapors   11.11 

Heavy  hydrocarbons   4.00 

CH4 35.98 

H2S     6.79 

C02    18.12 

CO   8.40 

O    26 

Ho   13.18 

N2    2.21 

100.05 

"Under  the  term  hydrocarbon  vapors  are  here  grouped  various  hydro- 
carbons which  are  liquid  at  ordinary  temperature  and  which  are  soluble  in 
alcohol.  Benzine  may  be  taken  as  a  type.  They  contain  more  than  six  atoms 
of  carbon  per  molecule.  The  heavy  hydrocarbons  are  gases,  such  as  ethylene, 
acetylene,  and  their  analogues. 

Results  of  other  analyses  are  as   follows: 


446  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 

Table  49. — Analyses  of  oil-roc  k1 

Capitola  mine  Big  Jack  mine 

Moisture 5.75  8.10 

Volatile    22.08  18.65 

Fixed  carbon    4.23  3.41 

Ash    67.93  69.84 

Total     100.00  100.00 

Sulphur 1.92  1.94 

Calories    10.20  9.62 

British  thermal  units 1836  1732 

"The  following-  are  the  results  of  a  destructive  distillation  test  on  the 
sample  of  oil-rock  received  April  28,  1909,  from  Platteville,  Wis.  The 
rock  as  received  was  crushed  to  buckwheat  size,  500  grams  (1.11  lbs.), 
placed  in  an  iron  retort  and  heated  in  a  furnace  previously  brought  to 
1080°  C,  until  practically  all  the  gas  was  evolved. 

"Gas  yield,  cubic  feet  per  ton  at  0°C  and  30  in.  mercury  pressure  and 
dry:    6130  cu.  ft. 

Table  50. — Composition  of  average  gas  collected  from  distillation  of 
Platteville,  Wisconsin,  oil-rock 

C02  and  H2S 35.4 

Illuminants    2.2 

O    1.3 

CO   43.6 

CH4,  etc2   3.0 

H   7.5 

N   7.0 


100.00 


"The  large  amount  of  CO2  in  the  gas  is  to  be  explained  as  resulting 
from  the  decomposition  of  calcite  or  other  carbonates  in  the  rock.  Prob- 
ably the  CO  is  in  some  degree  formed  by  the  reduction  of  CO2.  There  is  a 
considerable  amount  of  hydrogen  sulphide  in  the  gas  as  shown  by  lead 
acetate  paper.  The  gas  burns  freely  with  a  colorless  flame.  The  solid  resi- 
due from  the  distillation  is  gray-black  in  color  and  can  be  readily  powdered. 
A  certain  amount  of  dark,  thin  oil  was  driven  over  in  the  test  along  with 
water. 

"The  same  sample  was  subjected  to  extraction  with  benzol  to  remove  all 
naturally  occurring  petroleum  oils,  paraffines  and  asphaltums. 

"A  second  sample  was  subjected  to  distillation  under  atmospheric  pres- 
sure, and  a  third  sample  distilled  under  a  vacuum  of  12  mm.,  with  no 
appreciable  increase  in  yield  of  oil  of  the  vacuum  distillation  over  the  distilla- 


iFurnished  by  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  through  David  White. 
-Includes  all  hydrocarbons  of  CnH2n  +  2   type. 
(N  in  this  gas  =  1.93.) 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES  447 

tion  under  normal  pressure,  showing  that  but  a  small  quantity  of  matter  was 
present  as  a  true  oil. 

"The  total  distillate  of  oil  came  over  between  325 °C,  and  425 °C,  both 
under  normal  pressure  and  under  12  mm.  vacuum,  accompanied  with  much 
yellow-brown  fog  due  to  decomposition,  showing  again  that  there  was  no 
appreciable  quantity  of  naturally  occurring  oil  present." 

Table  51. — Quantitative  results  of  distillation  of  Platteville  oil-rock 

Natural  oil  by  extraction  with  benzol 0.36 

Oil  of  destructive  distillation,  closely  resembling  creosotic  oils  formed  by 

destructive  distillation  of  woods 2.86 

Loss    due   to   destructive   distillation    of    vapors    and   gases   of    destructive 

distillation   1.91 

Water  8.71 

Mineral    residue,    black   and    friable,    containing   a    small   amount    of    car- 
bonaceous matter   6.16 


100.00 

The  statement  is  made  that  the  oil-rock  tested  would  probably  yield  not 
more  than  3.22  per  cent  of  oil,  and  it  is  suggested  that  on  account  of  the 
large  amount  of  mineral  matter  present,  the  shale  would  serve  better  as  a 
gas-  than  as  an  oil-producing  material. 

Origin  of  the  Oil-Rock 

The  results  of  microscopic  examination  of  thin  sections  of  the  oil- rock 
by  Mr.  David  White  are  given  in  detail  in  Bulletin  21, 1  but  for  the  purposes 
of  this  report,  the  material  there  presented  in  full  is  here  summarized. 

Over  90  per  cent  of  the  rock  mass  is  made  up  of  flattened  oval  or  dis- 
coid translucent  bodies  that  are  distinguishable  only  under  the  highest-pow- 
ered microscopic  lenses.  They  are  brilliant  lemon-yellow  in  color  and  are 
highly  refractive,  the  birefringence  as  determined  by  F.  E.  Wright  being 
1.619.  These  bodies  are  less  than  250/1,000,000  of  an  inch  in  their  greatest 
dimension.  They  are  interpreted  as  the  fossil  remains  of  microscopic  algae 
comparable  to  the  living  family  Protococcales.  The  oil  and  gas  content  of 
the  oil-rock  is  believed  to  be  due  either  directly  or  indirectly  to  these  fos- 
silized residues.  These  algae  settled  in  quiet  or  protected  areas  under  con- 
ditions favorable  to  the  early  cessation  of  anaerobic  bacterial  decomposition, 
and  subsequent  slow  changes  brought  the  original  plant  material  to  its  present 
state. 

To  similar  fossil  remains  subjected  to  similar  changes  all  deposits  of  oil 
shales  and  cannel  coals  are  apparently  due. 


lOp.  cit.,  pp.  28-29. 


448  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND   1918 

FULTON  COUNTY 
A  former  utilization  of  a  bed  of  cannel  coal  is  described  in  the  old 
Geological  Survey  of  Illinois  :x 

"A  thin  seam  of  cannel  coal  occurs  in  the  vicinity  of  Avon  in  the  northwest 
corner  of  the  county,  and  before  the  discovery  of  the  vast  deposits  of  oil  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, was  mined  for  the  distillation  of  oil.  We  first  visited  the  locality  in  1859, 
and  found  ten  retorts  in  operation  at  that  time,  the  product  of  which  was  said  to  be 
from  three  to  five  hundred  gallons  of  oil  per  day.  The  seam  from  which  the  material 
was  supplied,  was  only  from  fourteen  to  twenty  inches  in  thickness,  and  the  cost  of 
mining  at  that  time  was  about  two  dollars  per  ton.  It  was  said  to  yield  about  thirty 
gallons  of  oil  per  ton  but  the  subsequent  discovery  of  oil  in  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio, 
put  a  stop  to  its  manufacture   from  cannel  coal  in  this  region." 

Professor  T.  E.  Savage  has  visited  the  site  of  the  former  operations,  in 
sec.  18,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  E.,  about  a  mile  north  of  Avon,  and  reports  that  the 
bed  is  about  14  inches  thick  and  resembles  cannel  coal.  He  identifies  it  as  a 
coal  which  commonly  underlies  the  Rock  Island  (No.  1  coal)  a  few  feet,  and 
is  separated  from  it  by  a  sandstone.  This  identification  fixes  the  deposits 
as  of  Pennsylvanian,  more  specifically,  Pottsville  age. 

SCHUYLER  COUNTY 
Source  and  Description  of  Samples 

Five  samples  of  shale  from  Schuyler  County  were  tested  by  Doctor 
Westhafer  of  the  Department  of  Chemistry  of  the  University  of  Illinois  in 
connection  with  the  preparation  of  a  thesis.  The  results  of  these  tests  are 
here  published  by  permission  of  that  department.2  The  samples,  all  fur- 
nished to  Doctor  Westhafer  by  the  State  Geological  Survey,  were  collected 
by  E.  A.  Holbrook.     Descriptions  of  the  samples  are  as  follows : 

Sample  No.  1.  From  the  SW.  %  sec.  12,  T.  1  N.,  R.  1  W.  The  sample 
represents  3  feet  of  paper  shale  that  directly  overlies  No.  2  coal.  The  shale 
has  concretions  the  diameters  of  which  are  not  uncommonly  1^2  by  3  feet. 
At  the  top  it  is  fine  grained  and  tough,  and  at  the  bottom  fissile. 

Sample  No.  2.  From  the  SW.  %  sec.  23,  T.  2  N.,  R.  1  W.  The  out- 
crop which  the  sample  represents  is  a  2-foot  bed  of  black,  somewhat  decom- 
posed calcareous  shale  containing  fossils  and  concretions.  Its  stratigraphic 
position  is  not  definitely  known,  but  it  is  believed  to  lie  above  the  horizon 
of  No.  5  coal. 

Sample  No.  ,?.  From  the  SW.  %  sec.  23,  T.  2  N.,  R.  1  W.  It  consists 
of  concretions  taken  from  the  same  shale  as  Sample  No.  2.  The  concretions 
are  hard,  tough,  and  have  uneven  fracture. 

Sample  No.  J,.  From  the  NW.  *4  sec.  31,  T.  1  N.,  R.  1  E.  This  sam- 
ple was  taken  from  4  feet  of  blue  shale  just  above  No.  2  coal. 


iWorthen.  A.  H.,  Geology  of  Fulton  County:  Geological  Survey  of  Illinois  Vol.  IV, 
pp.  105-106,  1870.  . 

-'Abstracted  from  a  Doctor's  thesis  prepared  by  T.  O.  Westhafer  during  his  appoint- 
ment as  Research  Graduate  Assistant  in  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois,  under  the  general  direction  of  S.  W.  Fair,  Professor  of  Industrial  Chem- 
istry. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES 


449 


Sample  No.  5.  From  the  NW.  ]/A  sec.  31,  T.  1  N.,  R.  1  E.  This  sam- 
ple represents  a  6-foot  bed  of  black,  fissile,  carbonaceous  shale,  overlying 
15  feet  of  blue  clay  shale,  below  which  is  the  shale  sampled  as  No.  4. 

The  shales  sampled  all  belong  to  the  Pennsylvanian  system  and  are  of 
Carbondale  age. 

Results  of  Tests 

Table  52  gives  the  results  of  preliminary  tests  made  on  the  samples. 

Table  52. — Results  of  preliminary  analysis  and  distillation   tests   on   Schuyler  County 

shales 


Sample 

No.  1 

Sample 

No.  2 

Sample 

No.  3 

Sample 
No.  4 

Sample 

No.  5 

Moisture 

1.75 
21.15 
63.80 
13.30 
14.7 

0.67 
0.97 

3.95 
21.00 
74.95 

0.72 
39.13 
51.60 

8.55 

0.7 

0.19 
0.37 

0.53 

7.02 

93.40 

1.67 

Volatile 

Ash 

Fixed  Carbon.  . 

9.33 

88.11 

0.90 

Yield  of  tar  per  ton  gals. 
Bitumen  extracted  by 

benzine per  cent 

Total  nitrogen  per  cent 

0.5 

0.19 
0.39 

0.18 

0.36 

Only  in  Sample  No.  1  was  sufficient  organic  material  present  to  make 
further  tests  worth  while.  Experimental  distillation  of  this  sample  gave  the 
following  results. 


.e   53. — Distillation   products   of    oil   shale   from    SW.V+  Sec.  12, 

Schuyler  County 
Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 

Gallons  of  crude  tar  at  25°  Centigrade 

Cubic  feet  of  gas   (n.  t.  p.) 

B.  t.  u.  of  gas   '. 

Gallons  of  light  oil  from  gas 

Fusion  point  of  ash,  in  degrees  Centigrade 


T.1X.,   R.l  IV. 


117 
3100 
690 

0.62 
1090 


SANGAMON  COUNTY 
Source  and  Description  of  Sample 

A  sample  of  black  shale  included  in  the  Carbondale  portion  of  the 
Pennsylvanian  rocks  of  Sangamon  County  has  been  collected  and  tested 
by  a  representative  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey. 

Quoting  from  Bulletin  641  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey:1 

Sample  9  was  obtained  from  the  black  shale  roof  of  No.  5  coal  at  the  East  Capitol 
mine  in  Springfield,  Illinois,  by  breaking  up  a  number  of  large  blocks  of  black  shale 
that  had  been  removed  from  the  mine  about  a  week  before  in  cleaning  up  a  roof  fall. 
Only  the  hearts  of  the  blocks  were  taken  to  avoid  including  any  shale  that  might  have 
been  weathered  along  the  joints  after  the  removal  of  the  coal.     The  breaking  down 


lAshley,  George  H.,  Oil  resources  of  black  shales  of  the  eastern  United  States  :     U.  S. 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  641  L,  pp.  314  and  319,  1917. 


450  YEAR  BOOK  FOR   1917  AND  1918 

of  the  shale  would  naturally  follow  the  joints,  and  the  joint  faces  would  form  the 
outside  surfaces  of  the  blocks.  The  shale  appeared  to  be  massive,  non-fissile,  and 
blackish  drab. 

Results  of  Tests 
A  preliminary  test  by  David  T.  Day  indicated  a  yield  of  12  gallons  of 
oil  per  short  ton.  The  results  of  a  more  detailed  test  also  by  Doctor  Day 
are  as  follows : 

Table  54. — Distillation  products  of  a  Sangamon   County  shale 
Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 

Gallons  of  oil  per  short  ton 11.9 

Gallons  of  water   9.8 

Cubic  feet  of  gas 2,186 

Pounds  of  ammonia    .65 

MOULTRIE  COUNTY 
Source  and  Description  of  Sample 
A  single  sample  from  Moultrie  County  was  tested  by  Doctor  Westhafer. 
It  represents  a  Pennsylvanian  shale  which  occurs  as  the  "roof-slate"  in  the 
Lovington  Coal  Company's  mine.  The  coal  mined  is  No.  6,  and  as  this  bed 
marks  the  top  of  the  Carbondale  formation,  the  overlying  shale  is  of 
McLeansboro  age.  It  is  black,  hard,  and  heavy,  has  uneven  fracture,  and 
contains  pyrites. 

Results  of  Tests 

The  results  of  preliminary  tests  on  this  shale  and  of  further  tests  made 
in  view  of  the  excellent  showing  in  the  preliminary  work  are  summarized 
below.1 

Table  55. — Results  of  preliminary  analysis  and  distillation  tests  of 
Lovington  roof  shale 

Moisture   per  cent     1.42 

Volatile     per  cent  17.97 

Ash    per  cent  5(8.65 

Fixed    carbon per  cent  21.96 

Yield  of  tar  per  ton  of  shale gallons  16.4 

Bitumen  extracted  by  benzine per  cent       .60 

Total  nitrogen per  cent      .83 

Table  56. — Distillation  products  of  Lovington  roof  shale 
Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 

Gallons  of  crude  tar  at  25°  Centigrade 13.7 

Cubic  feet  of  gas  (n.t.p.) 3285 

B.t.u.  of  gas  640 

Gallons  of  light  oil  from  gas .57 

Fusion  point  of  ash,  in  degrees  Centigrade 1160 

Sulphur,  per  cent  6.62 

i Abstracted  from  a  doctor's  thesis  prepared  by  T.  O.  Westhafer  during  his  appoint- 
ment as  Research  Graduate  Assistant  in  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois,  under  the  general  direction  of  S.  W.  Parr,  Professor  of  Industrial  Chem- 
istry. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES  451 

GALLATIN  COUNTY 

Source  and  Description  of  Sample1 

A  sample  of  the  roof  shales  of  No.  5  coal  at  the  Saline  County  Coal 
Company's  mine  located  near  the  town  of  Saline  Mines  was  cut  by  Wallace 
Lee.  Its  position  with  respect  to  No.  5  coal  shows  it  to  belong  in  the  Car- 
bondale  formation  of  the  Pennsylvanian  system. 

Results  of  Tests 

A  preliminary  test,  made  by  D.  E.  Winchester,  indicated  a  yield  of  12 
gallons  of  oil  per  short  ton,  and  further  tests  also  by  Mr.  Winchester,  gave 
the  following  information : 

Table  57. — Distillation  products  of  a  Gallatin  County  shale 
Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 

Gallons  of  oil  16 

Gallons  of  water 7.5 

Cubic   feet   of  gas Not  det. 

Pounds   of    ammonia 3.44 

HARDIN  COUNTY 

A  sample  of  black  shale  collected  by  Charles  Butts  on  Hicks  Branch, 
southwest  of  Hicks,  from  the  top  of  the  Chattanooga  shale  (Devonian)  was 
tested  by  D.  E.  Winchester.2  As  it  yielded  only  a  trace  of  oil  and  4.98 
pounds  of  ammonium  sulphate  per  ton,  it  is  not  to  be  classed  as  an  oil  shale. 

UNION  COUNTY 

Introduction 

Location  and  Topography 

The  Union  County  black  shale  which  has  been  tested  for  oil  comes  to 
the  surface  in  a  belt  75  to  200  feet  wide  along  the  west  slope  of  the  north- 
south  ridge  about  a  mile  west  of  Jonesboro,  as  described  by  Frank  Krey.3 
The  crest  of  the  ridge  is  from  150  to  225  feet  above  the  level  of  the  creek 
flats  and  the  black  shale  lies  generally  only  40  feet  below  the  crest.  At  the 
gaps  of  the  ridge,  however,  the  easterly  dip  of  the  rock  brings  it  to  the  creek 
level,  commonly  within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  east  of  the  crest.  The  eastern 
slope  of  the  ridge  is  gentle,  but  the  western  slope  is  abrupt,  especially  in  its 
upper  portion  where  vertical  faces  are  not  uncommon. 


i  Ashley.  George  H..  Oil  resources  of  black  shales  of  the  eastern  United  States:     U.  S. 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  641  L,  pp.  314  and  319,  1917. 

^Winchester,  Dean  E.,  Results  of  dry  distillation  of  miscellaneous  shale  samples:    U. 
S.  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  691  B,  p.  52,  1918. 

3Krey,   Frank.   Geologv,   distribution,   and  occurrence   [of  the  potash  shale]    in  Union 
County:     Univ.  of  111.  Ag\  Exp.  Station  Bull.  232,  pp.   237-243,  1921. 


452  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 

STRATIGRAPHIC  RELATIONS 

A  section  of  the  overlying  and  underlying  strata  is  as  follows  i1 

Section  of  the  Union  County  black  shale  and  associated  strata 
Quaternary  and  Cretaceous —  Feet 

Loess,  gravel,  and  iron  conglomerate 0 — 40 

Mississippian — 

Cherty   rock,   probably   representing  the   base   of   the   Burlington    for- 
mation       2 — 30 

Devonian — 

Shale,  green   (Springville  shale) 30 — 60 

Shale,  black,  carbonaceous  and  potash-bearing;  the  "oil-shale"   (Moun- 
tain Glen  shale)   35—45 

Limestone,  brown,  fine  grained  siliceous       Alto      / 
and   cherty    (   forma- ) 20—25 


Shale,    brown,    thin    bedded,    and    sili-  ?      tjon  \ 30+ 

ceous * 

The  Mountain  Glen  shale  is  probably  to  be  correlated  with  the  Chat- 
tanooga shale  of  Tennessee  and  the  New  Albany  shale  of  New  York. 
Character  and  Distribution  of  the  Shale 

The  shale  disintegrates  rapidly  on  exposure,  but  when  fresh  is  hard, 
black,  and  thinly  laminated,  which  gives  it  the  appearance  of  slate.  Near 
the  base  pyrite  is  common.  Weathering  causes  the  shale  to  split  into  thin 
sheets  which  are  lighter  in  color  than  the  fresh  material  and  are  stained  red 
by  iron.  Like  the  other  rocks  of  the  section,  the  shale  dips  eastward  at  an 
angle  of  15  degrees  on  the  average. 

The  constitution  of  the  shale  is  complex: — free  oil,  bituminous  matter, 
pyrite,  undecomposed  potassium-bearing  mineral,  probably  felspathic  in  char- 
acter, and  potassium-bearing  mineral  of  a  glauconitic  character.2 

The  outcrop  of  the  shale  which,  as  previously  stated,  lies  high  on  the 
west  slope  of  the  ridge  a  mile  west  of  Jonesboro,  marks  the  western  limit 
of  the  shale.  To  the  north  the  outcrop  is  terminated  by  a  northwest-south- 
east fault  in  sec.  22,  T.  11  S.,  R.  2  W.,  northwest  of  Mountain  Glen.  And 
its  southern  end  lies  in  the  southern  part  of  Sec.  23,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.  Its 
extent  eastward  from  the  line  of  outcrop  is  unknown  because  its  horizon  is 
concealed  by  an  increasing  thickness  of  younger  strata,  but  the  probability 
is  that  it  is  at  least  several  miles. 

SOURCE  OF  SAMPLES 

Four  samples  of  shale  from  Union  County  were  collected  by  E.  A. 
Holbrook  of  the  State  Geological  Survey,  and  the  results  of  tests  made  on 
them  by  Doctor  Westhafer  are  published  with  the  permission  of  the  Depart- 
ment of  Chemistry.3 


iParr.  S.  W.f  and  Austin,  M.  M.,  Potash  shales  of  Illinois:  Univ.  of  111.  A?.  Exp. 
Station  Bull.   232,  p.   238,    1921. 

2Ibid.,  p.   236. 

•^Abstracted  from,  a  doctor1*  thesis  prepared  by  T.  O.  Westhafer  during  his  appoint- 
ment as  Research  Graduate  Assistant  in  the  Engineering-  Experiment  Station  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Illinois,  under  the  general  direction  of  S.  W.  Parr,  Professor  of  Industrial  Chem- 
istry. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES 


453 


Sample  1.  From  SE  }/\  sec.  1,  T.  13  S.,  R.  2  W.,  about  3  miles  south 
of  Jonesboro.  This  sample  represents  two  bands  of  chocolate-colored  shale 
about  16  to  18  inches  thick  and  18  feet  apart,  both  of  which  lie  in  an  exposed 
bank  of  many  feet  of  tough,  fissile,  gray  and  green  shale  (the  Springville 
shale).     The  beds  sampled  are  hard  and  flinty  and  have  an  uneven  fracture. 

Sample  2.  From  SW.  j/4  sec.  11,  T.  12  S.,  R.  2  W.,  about  3  miles 
northwest  of  Jonesboro,  on  Caney  Creek.  This  sample  was  taken  from  the 
lower  10  feet  of  a  35-foot  bed  of  chocolate-colored  and  black  fissile  shale 
(the  Mountain  Glen  shale). 

Sample  3.  From  the  same  location  as  Sample  2,  but  taken  from  the 
upper  25  feet  of  the  bed. 

Sample  4-  From  SW.  J/\  sec.  9,  T.  2  S.,  R.  1  W.,  about  2  miles  north 
of  Anna.  A  fossiliferous  brownish  shale  bed,  15  feet  thick  was  the  source 
of  this  sample.     Its  age  is  not  definitely  known. 

Results  of  Tests 
Table  58  gives   the   results   of   preliminary   tests   made   on  these    four 
samples. 

Table  58. — Results  of  preliminary  analysis  and  distillation   tests   on   four   Union 

County  shales 
Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 


Moisture per  cent 

Volatile per  cent 

Ash per  cent 

Fixed  carbon per  cent 

Yield  of  tar  per  ton gals. 

Bitumen  extracted  by  benzine 

per  cent 
Total  nitrogen per  cent 


Sample 
No.  1 


1.30 
10.50 
92.55 


0.13 


Sample 
No.  2 


1.01 
10.29 
87.40 

1.30 

4.5 

0.15 
0.41 


Sample 
No.  3 


1.25 
11.60 

85.51 
1.64 
4.2 

0.20 
0.51 


Sample 
No.  4 


3.25 

9.82 

89.20 


0.04 


Samples  1  and  2  contained  only  very  small  amounts  of  carbonaceous 
material,  but  the  content  of  samples  3  and  4  was  such  as  to  encourage  fur- 
ther tests,  the  results  of  which  follow. 

Table  59. — Yield  of  gas  and  tar  from  tzvo  Union  County  shales 
Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 

Sample  3  Sample  4 

Gallons  of  crude  tar  at  25°  Centigrade 2.0  1.9 

Cubic  feet  of  gas  (n.t.p.) 1208  2200 

B.t.u.  of  gas 600  510 

JOHNSON  COUNTY 
Introduction 
The  results  of  exhaustive  tests  by  Dr.  T.  O.  Westhafer  of  samples  of 
an  oil  shale  taken  by  a  Survey  representative   from  near  Ozark  are  here 


454 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 


published,  amplified  by  geological  material  taken  from  the  field  notes  of 
Dr.  G.  H.  Cady  and  Professor  E.  A.  Holbrook,  and  from  published  reports. 
This  deposit  is  particularly  interesting  because  of  its  commercial  possibilities. 
The  kindness  of  Mr.  Frank  Stone  of  Ozark  and  especially  the  helpful 
interest  and  assistance  of  Dr.  J.  E.  Blanchard,  extended  to  members  of  the 
Survey  during  their  brief  inspection  trips  to  the  deposit,  are  gratefully 
acknowledged. 

LOCATION    AND    TOPOGRAPHY 

The  Ozark  oil-shale  deposit  lies  chiefly  in  sees.  27,  34,  and  35,  T.  11  S., 
R.  4  E.  (Burnside  Tp.),  about  two  miles  southeast  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  station  of  Ozark,  and  within  a  mile  east  of  the  railroad  track  as 
it  passes  south  from  Ozark.  Hilly,  rugged  topography  characterizes  the 
area.  The  divides  between  creeks  and  their  tributaries  are  conspicuous 
ridges,  and  their  high  points  lie  commonly  50  to  100  feet  above  the  hollows. 


■v^-a 


GENERALIZED    CROSS    SECTION 


Fig.   61.     Sketch  map  based  on  work  of  G.   H.   Cady,   showing  the  oil  shale  outcrop  near 

Ozark  in  Johnson  County. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES  455 

Figure  61  outlines  the  deposit,  and  by  means  of  a  diagrammatic  section 
indicates  the  relation  of  the  ridges  and  hollows  to  the  shale  and  the  strata 
overlying  and   beneath    it. 

STRATIGRAPHIC  RELATIONS 

The  rock  outcropping  on  the  tops  and  upper  slopes  of  the  divides  is 
resistant  yellow  sandstone,  and  the  boulders  in  the  fields  on  their  lower 
slopes  are  also  of  hard  yellow  and  red  streaked  sandstone.  Underlying  this 
sandstone  and  separating  it  from  the  oil  shale  is  a  6-  to  8-foot  bed  of  dark 
chocolate-colored  shale ;  and  beneath  the  oil  shale  is  at  least  5  or  6  feet  of 
"clean"  white  fire  clay.  These  relations  are  indicated  diagrammatically  in 
the  section  in  figure  61. 

These  strata  belong  to  the  Pennsylvanian  system  and  are  all  of  Potts- 
ville  age.  In  this  part  of  the  State  the  Pottsville  strata  consist  of  alternat- 
ing sandstones  and  shales  as  shown  in  the  following  generalized  section.1 

Generalised  section  of  Pottsville  strata 

Thickness 
Feet 
Shales    with   thin  beds   of    sandstone   and    sandy,   micaceous    shale ;    local 

limestones  and  coal  beds  ;  some  gypsiferous  shale 400 

Upper  cliff-making  sandstone,  massive,  cross-bedded  sandstones  not  con- 
glomeratic,  commonly   ironstained    100-200 

Shale  with  thin  sandy  layers  and  local  coal  beds 75-125 

Middle  cliff-making   sandstone,   massive,    quartzose   sandstone    with   local 

conglomeratic    lenses    40-150 

Shale  with  thin  micaceous  sandy  beds  and  local  dirty  coals 40-  60 

Lower    cliff-making    sandstone,    massive    cross-bedded     sandstone    with 

conglomeratic  beds   100-250 

Brown  gritty  shale   10-  40 

As  will  be  noted  from  the  above  section,  the  oil  shale  is  a  part  of  the 
shale  horizon  that  separates  the  upper  and  lower  cliff-making  sandstones. 

The  Oil  Shale 
description 
The  deposit  is  exposed  commonly  in  the  hollows  as  a  2J/2-  to  3^ -foot 
bed  of  black  laminated  shale  on  the  face  of  which  scattered  white  oily 
blotches  appear.  Its  distinct  tendency  to  split  along  the  bedding  planes  in 
thin  sheets  gives  it  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  hard,  firm,  black  slate. 
The  term  "cannel  coal"  has  been  applied  to  the  bed,  but  the  laminations  are 
so  numerous  and  conspicuous  that  "carbonaceous  oil  shale"  is  a  much  better 
descriptive  term.  Extending  back  from  the  face  in  two  directions  at  right 
angles  to  each  other  are  incipient,  approximately  vertical,  cleavage  planes 
which  are  wavy  and  sinuous  rather  than  in  sharp  straight  lines.  When  the 
shale  is  mined,  it  tends  to  split  along  these  planes  into  large,  roughly  rec- 

iBrokaw,  A.  D.,  Parts  of  Saline,  Johnson,  Pope,  Williamson  counties:  111.  State  Geol. 
Survey  Bull.   35,  p.   24,   1917. 


456  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 

tangular  blocks  commonly  about  1  foot  thick,  20  inches  long,  and  perhaps  12 
inches   wide. 

The  5-foot  bed  of  carbonaceous  shale  which  immediately  overlies  the 
oil  shale  is  siliceous,  and  under  the  ridges  it  is  covered  by  thick  hard  sand- 
stone which  would  probably  make  a  good  roof  for  mining. 

The  following  section  was  measured  in  a  test  pit  near  the  stripping 
operations  on  the  Frank  Stone  land. 

Section  of  oil  shale  measured  in  a  test  pit  on  the  Frank  Stone  land  in  the  NW.  Y\ 

NW.  VA  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  4  E. 

Thickness 
Ft.      In. 

8.     Soil,   yellow    1  to  5     .. 

7.     Shale,  chocolate  siliceous  4  2 

6.     Mud,  red,  merely  a  streak 

5.     Oil    shale    2  9 

4.     Coal,    bituminous    \l/2 

3.     Coal,  cannel    4 

2.     Coal,  bituminous,  with  peacock-colored  blotches 2 

1 .     Fire  clay,  white 5+ 


Fig.   62.      Photograph   of   the   outcrop   of  the   Ozark  oil   shale   and   the   overlying  cholocate- 
colored  shale,  in  the  SW.   %  NW.   %  NW.   %   sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.,  4E.,  Johnson  County. 


DISTRIBUTION 

At  the  stripping  operations  in  the  creek  bed,  on  the  Stone  land  in  the 
SW.  %  NW.  %  NW.  yi  sec.  35,  is  perhaps  the  best  typical  exposure  of  the 
oil  shale  (fig.  62).  As  mined  it  is  31  to  32  inches  thick,  though  in  the  nearby 
test  pit  from  which  the  samples  were  taken  for  testing  and  in  which  the 
preceding  section  was  measured,  its  thickness  was  about  8  inches  greater. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES  457 

In  the  hollow  immediately  north  of  the  stripping  operations,  in  the 
woods  along  the  north  line  of  the  NE.  ]/\  NE.  l/\.  sec.  34,  there  are  several 
old  pits  that  are  now  partly  filled  so  that  the  shale  is  no  longer  exposed.  It 
is  said  to  lie  from  5  to  20  feet  below  the  surface. 

In  the  creek  bed  in  the  NE.  cor.  SE.  *4  SW.  34  sec.  27,  the  shale  is 
not  well  exposed,  but  it  is  apparently  less  than  30  inches  thick. 

Fragments  of  the  shale  were  found  at  a  pit  west  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  about  half  a  mile  south  of  the  north  line  of  sec.  34,  but  the  thick- 
ness of  the  bed  at  this  point  could  not  be  determined  because  the  pit  was 
covered. 

Fragments  of  the  shale  were  also  found  in  the  bed  of  a  creek  in  the 
NW.  Y\  NE.  *4  sec.  35,  about  half  a  mile  northeast  of  the  test  pit  on  the 
Stone  land ;  but  none  was  found  in  the  next  ravine  half  a  mile  farther  east 
in  the  west  half  of  sec.  36. 

In  an  old  well  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  southeast  of  the  Stone  pit,  the 
shale  is  reported  at  a  depth  of  22  feet,  which  is  at  practically  the  same  ele- 
vation as  it  is  in  the  pit. 

All  these  outcrops  are  shown  on  the  sketch  map  (fig.  61)  and  the 
approximate  boundary  of  the  shale  at  intervening  points  is  indicated.  Appar- 
ently the  shale  seems  to  be  present  under  nearly  all  but  the.  SE.  V\  sec.  35  ; 
only  in  NE.  ^4  sec.  34;  and  all  but  a  small  area  in  the  S.  ^4  SE.  %  sec.  27. 
West  of  sec.  35  ir  is  not  definitely  known  to  be  present,  at  least  in  workable 
thickness,  and  in  the  east  part  of  sees.  26  and  35  it  is  possibly  too  thin  to 
wrork.  The  continuity  of  the  bed  northward  is  practically  undetermined. 
The  available  data  indicate  that  the  best  shale  underlies  sec.  35  and  it  may 
extend  under  at  least  part  of  sec.  36. 

PRESENT    USE 

The  farmers  in  the  vicinity  use  the  shale  in  their  cookstoves  and  fire- 
places. For  their  cookstoves  they  pound  up  the  lumps  with  the  head  of  an 
axe  until  they  are  reduced  to  flat  pieces  2  to  3  inches  square.  The  noise 
and  results  of  the  operation  resemble  what  would  take  place  if  one  struck 
a  pile  of  roofing  slate  with  an  axe.  For  the  open  fireplaces,  the  large  lumps 
are  rolled  in  and  burn  freely  with  a  very  long  hot  flame.  They  split  hori- 
zontally when  heated  and  when  one  is  pried  apart  often  it  reveals  a  little 
pool  of  oil  which  has  "stewed"  out  of  the  shale  and  collected  in  the  hollows. 
As  this  is  exposed  to  the  air  it  burns  with  a  long  flame  and  a  noise  resem- 
bling hot  fat  when  dropped  on  a  hot  stove.  After  the  oil  burns  out  of  the 
shale,  the  ashes  commonly  retain  their  original  shale  form  but  have  become 
soft  and  gray. 

SOURCE   AND   DESCRIPTION   OF    SAMPLES 

Sample  1.  From  NW.  %  sec.  35,  T.  11  S.,  R.  4  E.  A  42-inch  thick- 
ness of  the  shale  was  sampled. 


458 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND  1918 


Sample  2.  Represents  the  same  shale  as  does  Sample  1,  but  was  taken 
from  a  20-ton  pile  of  the  shale  mined  and  dumped  beside  the  outcrop.  It 
was  somewhat  mixed  with  leaner  material. 

Sample  3.  Represents  the  50-inch  chocolate  shale  lying  above  the 
deposit  where  Sample  1  was  taken. 

Sample  4-  From  a  shaft  sunk  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  out- 
crop from  which  Samples  1  and  2  were  taken.  The  sample  consisted  of  a 
1500-pound  shipment  of  freshly  mined  shale.  It  was  slightly  heavier  and 
less  weathered  than  Samples  1  and  2. 

Results  of  Tests 

Samples  of  the  oil  shale  were  tested  by  Dr.  T.  O.  Westhafer  of  the 
Department  of  Chemistry  of  the  University  of  Illinois  in  the  winter  of 
1917-1918.  On  the  following  pages  will  be  found  some  of  the  results  of 
these  tests,  abstracted  from  a  doctor's  thesis  prepared  during  Mr.  West- 
hafer's  appointment  as  Research  Graduate  Assistant  in  the  Engineering 
Experiment  station  of  the  University  of  Illinois,  under  the  general  direction 
of  S.  W.  Parr,  Professor  of  Industrial  Chemistry.  Table  60  is  based  on 
preliminary  tests. 


Table  60. — Results  of  preliminary  analysis  and  distillation   tests  on  four 
Johnson  County  shales 


Moisture per  cent 

Volatile per  cent 

Ash per  cent 

Fixed  carbon per  cent 

Yield  of  tar  per  ton gals. 

Bitumen  extracted  by  benzine 

per  cent 

Total  nitrogen per  cent 


Sample 
No.  1 


1.77 
33.73 
38.50 
26.00 
38.4 

1.09 
0.89 


Sample 
No.  2 


1.96 
31.69 

42.85 
23.50 
36.0 

0.98 
0.82 


Sample 
No.  3 


1.80 

8.75 
18.35 
1.60 


0.35 


Sample 
No.  4 


1.65 
36.80 
38.45 
23.10 

48.8 

1.16 
0.92 


The  fact  that  only  about  1  per  cent  is  extracted  by  solvent  benzine 
shows  that  free  oily  or  asphaltic  matter  exists  in  only  very  small  amounts 
and  that  therefore  distillation  is  the  only  possible  method  of  obtaining  their 
content  of  bitumen.  In  this  connection  it  is  to  be  noted  that  Colorado  and 
Utah  shales  yield  about  6  per  cent  of  their  weight  when  treated  with  either 
benzine  or  ether.1 


iWoodruff,  E.  G.,  and  Day,  D.  T.,  Oil  shale  of  northwestern  Colorado  and  northeastern 
Utah:    U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  581  a,  1915. 


ILLINOIS  BITUMINOUS  SHALES 

Further  tests  on  samples  1  and  4  are  summarized  in  Table  61. 

Table  61. — Yield  of  oil  and  by-products  from  the  Ozark  shale  of  Johnson 

Calculated  for  one  ton  of  shale 

Sample  1 

Gallons  of  crude  tar  at  25°  Centigrade 36.6 

Cubic   feet  of  gas    (n.t.p.) 6389 

B.t.u.  of  gas 690 

Gallons  of  light  oil  from  gas 2.44 

Fusion  point  of  ash,  in  degrees  Centigrade 1240 

Sulphur,    per    cent 

The  results  of  the  analysis  of  the  tar  obtained  from  these  two 
are  given  in  Table  62;  of  analysis  of  the  gases,  in  Table  63 ;  and  of 
of  the  light  oils  from  the  gas,  in  Table  64. 


459 


County 

Sample  4 
45.1 
5860 
760 
2.28 
1240 
1.18 

samples 
analysis 


Table  62. — Results  of  analysis  of  tar  obtained  from  two  samples  of  Ozark  shale 

from  Johnson  County 


Cut 


Sp.  Gr.  at 
25°  C. 


Per  cent 
paraffin 


Per  cent 
unsaturated 
hydro- 
carbons 


Per  cent 
aromatic 
hydro- 
carbons 


Acids 


Bases 


Sample  1 

To  150°  C 

.770 
.823 
.865 
.926 
.897 

54 
44 
42 

34 

37 
38 
46 

55 

10 

6 

11 

8 

5 

2 

150-225° 

5 

225-300° 

4 

Over  300° 

Crude  tar 

Sample  4 

To  150°  C 

.776 
.828 
.871 
.930 
.901 

59 
48 
35 

27 
31 
50 
65 

72 

12 
9 

8 

6 

4 

2 

150-225° 

6 

225-300° 

3 

Over  300° 

Crude  tar 

460  YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1917  AND   1918 

Table  63. — Results  of  analysis  of  gases  from  two  samples  of  Ozark  shale  from 

Johnson  County 

'Sample  Sample 

1  4 

Carbon   dioxide    6.7  5.0 

Oxygen    0.3  0.3 

Acetylene    0.0  0.1 

Unsaturated  hydrocarbons    4.4  6.0 

Ethylene \ .       1.2  1.3 

Aromatic  hydrocarbons    1.0  1.3 

Hydrogen    34.9  29.4 

Carbon  monoxide  2.3  3.0 

Methane    23.1  25.1 

Ethane     21.9  24.5 

Nitrogen  and  residue 2.2  3.0 

B.t.u 690  760 

Table  64. — Results  of  analysis  of  light  oils  from  two  samples  of  Ozark  shale 

from  Johnson  County 


Per  cent 

Per  cent 

Per  cent 

Fraction 

Per  cent 
weight 

Sp.  Gr.  at 
25°  C. 

paraffin 
hydro- 
carbons 

unsaturated 
hydro- 
carbons 

aromatic 
hydro- 
carbons 

Sample  1 


To  95°  C.  . 

52.2 

35.5 

3.5 

0.719 
0.733 
0.738 

67 
64 

75 

27 

27 
22 

6 

95-125°  C 

9 

125-133°  C 

3 

Sample  4 


To  95°  C 

95-125°  C 

40.5 

44.3 

6.7 

0.721 
0.728 
0.742 

72 
70 

22 
24 

7 
6 

125-133°  C 

INDEX 


A 

FAGE 

Adams  County,  clays  in 298,  370 

Aetna  Powder  Company,  descrip- 
tion of  clay  exposures  of 342 

tests  of  clay  deposits  of 342-343 

Agricultural  production 28 

Albion,  potash  content  of  shales 

near 437 

Alexander  County,  clays  in .  .  298,  299,  303 
exposure  of  Wilcox  group  in .  .  .  306-307 

field  notes  on  clays  in 342 

tests  of  clays  in 342-344 

tripoli  in 103 

Alluvial  deposits,  development  of 

clays  from 308-309 

Alluvial  deposits  in  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 180-181 

Alsey,  clay  deposits  near.  .  .  .298,  362,  363 

tests  of  clay  near 364-365 

Alto  Pass,  clay  deposits  near 303,  309 

Alton,  clay  deposits  near 298 

lime  near 58-59 

potash  content  of  shales  near .  .  437 

American  Ceramic  Society,  work 

of 277,287 

Andalusia,  exposure  of  sandstone 

near 148 

thickness  of  coals  in 192 

Anderson,  description  of  clay  from 

farm  of 410 

test  of  clay  from  farm  of 412-413 

Anticlines  near: 

Cable 200 

Matherville 200 

Milan 200 

Oakdale 200 

Architectural    terra    cotta    clay, 

character  of 284-285 

Asphalt,  production  of 102 

Austin,  M.  M.,  work  of 439 


Avon  Milling  and  Manufacturing 
Company,     description     and 

tests  of  clay  deposits  of 380-381 

Avon,   occurrence  of  .cannel  coal 

near 448 

oil  well  at 269 

Avon     Quadrangle,     analyses     of 

coals  in 256-258 

building  stone  in 263-264 

Burlington  limestone  in 218-219 

Carbondale  formation  in 230-245 

clay  in 261-263 

coal  resources  of 251-260 

Colchester  coal  in 230-235,  253 

drainage  of 213 

geology  of 213-251 

location  of 211-212 

logs  of  wells  in 215-218 

McLeansboro  formation  in ....  245-248 

mineral  resources  of 251-271 

mining  methods  in 258-259 

Mississippian  system  in 218-219 

Pennsylvanian  system  in 

219-248,261-262 

Pottsville  formation  in 220-230 

Rock  Island  coal  in 223-226,  252 

sand  and  gravel  in 263 

shale  in 261 

shipping  mines  in 259-260 

stratigraphy  of 214-248 

structure  of  strata  in 248-251 

test  wells  in 269 

topography  of 213 

water  resources  of 265-267 


B 


Baird    Brothers,     description    of 

clay  mine  of 372 

Ball  clay,  characteristics  of 281 


461 


462 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Barber,  James  A.,  greensand  de- 
posits on  farm  of 435 

Bardolph,  clay  deposit  near 370 

Barrett,  N.  O.,  work  of.  .25-112,  441-460 

Baryte,  development  of 105 

Basic  Mineral  Company,  fluorspar 

mine  of 424 

Bausch,  Frederick  E.,  description 

of  clay  mines  of 316,  319 

tests  of  clays  from  mine  of ...  .  325-327 
Bay  City,  alluvial  deposits  near . . .         308 

Bedford,  clay  outcrops  at 366-367 

tests  of  clay  at. , 367-369 

Belknap,  alluvial  deposits  near. . .         308 
Bibliography   of    the   mineral   in- 
dustries. .  . 107-112 

Bituminous  shales,  deposits  of.  .  .443,  444 
results  of  experimental  distilla- 
tion of 441-460 

Black  Hawk's  Watchtower,   sec- 
tion of  strata  at 148 

Bond    clays,    plastic,    refractory, 

character  and  uses  of 283-284 

Bonding  strength  of  raw  clays .  .  .  293 

Brereton,  No.  6  coal  near 245 

Brick,  production  of 33 

Brookport,  alluvial  deposit  near. .         308 

Brown  County,  clays  in 298,  370 

Brownfield,  alluvial  deposit  near .  308 

Bureau  of  information 18 

Burlington  limestone  in  Avon  and 

Canton  quadrangles 218-219 

Burned  clays,  color  changes  of .  .  .  297 

deformation  tests  of 297-298 

fusion  tests  of 297-298 

porosity  of 297 

properties  and  methods  of  test- 
ing of 294-298 

pyrometric    methods    used     in 

testing  of 294-295 

shrinkage  of 297 

see  also  Clays 

Bushnell,  oil  well  at 269 

water  supply  of 267 

Butts,  Charles,  work  of 451 


Cable,  anticline  near 200 

coal-test  boring  in 160 

Cady,  G.  H.,  work  of 

427-431,  432-434,  440, 454 


PAGE 

Cain,  A.M.,  test  of  clay  from  pit  of  354-355 

Cairo,  Ripley  sand  near 302 

Calhoun  County,  clays  in 289,  349 

tests  of  clays  in 349-350 

Cambrian    system    in    Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 

132-133,  185-186 

Camp  Point,  clay  deposit  near. . . .         370 
Cannel   coal   in   Fulton   County, 

occurrence  of 448 

Cannel  coal,  location  of  deposits  of         443 

Canton,  log  of  boring  near 242 

oil  tests  in 269 

water  supply  of 215,  267 

Canton   Quadrangle,    analyses   of 

coal  in 256-258 

building  stone  in 263-264 

Burlington  limestone  in 218-219 

Carbondale  formation  in 230-245 

clay  in 261-263 

coal  resources  of 251-260 

Colchester  coal  in 230-235,  253 

drainage  of 213 

geology  of 213-251 

location  of 211-212 

logs  of  wells  in 215-218 

McLeansboro  formation  in.  .  .  .245-248 

mineral  resources  of 251-271 

mining  methods  in 258-259 

Mississippian  system  in 218-219 

Pennsylvanian  system  in 

219-248,261-262 

Pottsville  formation  in 220-230 

Rock  Island  coal  in 223-226,  252 

sand  and  gravel  in 263 

shale  in 261 

shipping  mines  in 259-260 

stratigraphy  of 214-248 

structure  of  strata  in 248-251 

test  wells  in 269 

topography  of 213 

water  resources  of 265-267 

Canton    shale    member    in    Avon 

and  Canton  quadrangles 240-242 

Carbon  Cliff,  Cheltenham  clay  at         383 

tests  of  clay  at 385-386 

Carbondale  and  McLeansboro 
formations  in  Avon  and  Can- 
ton quadrangles,  description  of  230-248 

fossils  in 232-233,  238-240 

sections  of 231-232,  234-244 


463 


PAGE 

Carbondale  and  McLeansboro 
formations  in  Edgington  and 
Milan  quadrangles,  descrip- 
tion of 149,156-161,187 

Cave-in-Rock  mine,  fluorite  in ... .  423 

Cedar  Valley  limestone  in  Edging- 
ton  and  Milan  quadrangles .  .  136 

Cement,  bibliography  of 112 

production  of 34,  90-93 

Ceramic  Engineering  Department, 

work  of 276 

Chaledonia,    description    of    clay 

deposits  near 336 

test  of  clay  deposits  near 340-342 

Chaledonia  Landing,   deposits  of 

Midway  formation  near .  304,  305,  306 

Cheltenham  clay,  deposits  of 

272,298,363,383 

stratigraphy  of 299 

Chicago  Fire  Brick  Company,  de- 
scription of  clay  from  shaft  of.  39 1-392 

test  of  clay  from  shaft  of 407-408 

Chicago,  limestone  in  vicinity  of .  57 

Chicago    Retort   and   Fire   Brick 

Company,  clay  pits  of 390-391 

test  of  clay  from  pits  of 404-405 

China  clay,  characteristics  of ...  .         280 
Clark  County,  discovery  of  oil  in . .  98 

Clay,  bibliography  of 110-111 

Cheltenham,  deposits  of . . .  272,  298,  383 

investigations  of 17-18 

production  of 36,  85 

Clay  in  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles  262-263 

Clay    in    Edgington    and    Milan 

quadrangles 197-198 

Clay  products,  bibliography  of . .  .  110-111 

production  of 33,  84-89 

Clay  products  industry,  condition 

of 89-90 

Clays,  character  of 280-287,  299 

classification  of 277-280 

color  changes  of 297 

conservation  of 287 

distribution  of 298-299 

methods  of  testing  of 287-298 

origin  of 299 

outcrop  of  embayment  deposits 

of 300 

physical  properties  of 278,  287-298 

porosity  of 297 


PAGE 

preparation  for  testing  of 289 

shrinkage  of 297 

tests  of 297-298 

types  of 280-287 

uses  of 280-287,  417 

see  also  Raw  clays  and  Burned 
clays 

Clays  of  Embayment  area 299-344 

Clays  of  Pennsylvanian  age 344-414 

Coal,  bibliography  of 107-109 

consumption  of 75-78 

distribution  of 75-78 

prices  of 78-80 

production  of 30-31,  74-75 

production  of  by  counties 

61,66-67,72,73 

studies  of 15-16 

value  of 30-31 

see  also  Low-sulphur  coal 
Coal  in  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles, analyses  of 256-258 

Coal  industry,  history  of 60-80 

Coal    in    Edgington    and    Milan 

quadrangles,  analyses  of ...  .  197 

Coal  investigations 15-16 

"Coal    Measures,"    see    Pennsyl- 
vanian system 
Coal  resources  of  Avon  and  Can- 
ton quadrangles 251-260 

Coal  resources  of  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 190-197 

Coals,  sulphur  content  of 429-430 

Coal    Valley    Mining    Company, 

coal  in  mine  of 159 

mine  of  at  Sherrard 160-161 

old  channel  in  coal  of  Sherrard 

mine  of 161-163 

Cobden,  clay  pit  near 313 

Coke,  bibliography  of 109 

production  of 32,  82-84 

value  of 32 

Colchester  Brick  and  Tile  Com- 
pany, description  of  clay  pit 

of 371 

tests  of  clay  in  pit  of 374-376 

Colchester,  clay  near 298,  371-372 

Colchester  coal  in  Avon  and  Can- 
ton quadrangles 230-235,  253 

Color  changes  of  burned  clays .  .  .  297 

Columbia,  clay  deposits  near ....  344-345 
Common  brick,    production  of  33,  84-90 


464 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Cook  County,  common  brick  in.  .  89 

limestone  in 57 

Correlation    of    embayment    clay 

deposits 299-309 

Cottrell  process  of  potash  recovery         437 
Cretaceous  clay  deposits .  299-301,  303-304 

Cuba,  log  of  well  at 216-217 

No.  5  and  No.  6  coals  near.  .  .  .         242 

oil  test  at 269 

water  supply  of 267 

Culver,  H.  E,  work  of 400 

D 

Danville,  potash  content  of  shales 

near 437 

Davenport,  data  on  well  in 132-133 

section  of  Pleistocene  strata  at.         165 

Day,  David  T.,  work  of 450 

Dayton,  clay  deposits  near 391 

test  of  clay  near 405-407 

Dayton  Clay  Works,  test  of  clay 

from  mine  of 405-407 

Deer  Park,  clay  deposit  near 388-389 

tests  of  clays  near 398-400 

Deformation  tests  of  burned  clays. 297-298 

Devonian  limestone  in  Edgington 
and  Milan  quadrangles,  fos- 
sils in 136-140 

generalized  section  of 136-139 

Devonian      system,      bituminous 

shales  in 444 

Devonian  system  in  Edgington 
and  Milan  quadrangles,  de- 
scription of 136-141 

Distillation  of  bituminous  shales, 

results  of 441-460 

Distribution  of  clays 298-299 

Dixon,  cement  plant  at 93 

potash  content  of  shales  near .  .  .  437,  439 

Dougherty  Brothers,  Herrin  coal 

in  mine  of 159,  196 

Drake,  clay  pit  at 350,  351 

tests  of  clay  deposits  near 354-358 

Drain  tile,  production  of 33,  84-90 

Drainage    of    Avon    and    Canton 

quadrangles 213 

Drainage  of  Edgington  and  Milan 

quadrangles 125-126 

Drift   gas   in    Avon    and   Canton 

quadrangles 269-270 


PAGE 

Drift  gas  in  Edgington  and  Milan 

quadrangles 200-201 

Drilling  in  Avon  and  Canton 
quadrangles,  recommenda- 
tions for 270-271 

Drilling  in  Edgington  and  Milan 
quadrangles,  recommenda- 
tions for 200 

E 

Early  industries,  location  of 46 

East   Alton,  outcrop  of  fire  clay 

near 346 

East  Alton  Stoneware  Pipe  Com- 
pany, section  of  shaft  of 346 

tests  of  clay  deposits  of 346-348 

Edgington  Quadrangle,  absence  of 

coal  in 184 

alluvium  in 180-181 

Cambrian  system  in.  .132-133,  185-186 
Carbondale  formation  in  .  .156-161,  187 

Cedar  Valley  limestone  in 136 

cement  materials  in 199 

character  of  formations  in 127-181 

character  of  soils  in 201 

clay  in 197-198 

coal  resources  of 190-197 

columnar  section  in 128 

culture  in 126-127 

Devonian  system  in 136-141,  186 

drainage  of 125-126 

drift  gas  in 200-201 

fossils  in  loess  deposits  of .  .  176,  178,  179 
generalized  section  cf  Devonian 

limestone  in 136-139 

generalized  section  of  Pennsyl- 

vanian  system  in 149 

geologic  history  of 185-190 

geology  of 127-190 

Illinoian  till  in 169-173 

Kansan  till  in 164-167 

limestone  in 198-199 

loess  deposit  in 175-179 

McLeansboro  formation  in  ...  . 

149,156-161,  187 

Maquoketa  shale  in 134-135 

mineral  resources  of 190-208 

Mississippian  system  in.  .  .  141,  186-187 

Niagaran  limestone  in 135 

oil  and  gas  possibilities  in 200-201 

Ordovician  system  in 133-135,  186 


465 


PAGE 

Pennsylvania!!  system  in .  .  141-163,  187 

Platteville  limestone  in 134 

Pleistocene  series  in. .  .  164-180,  188-190 

position  of 121 

"Potsdam"  series  in 132-133 

Pottsville  formation  in .  .  .  141-156,  187 
Prairie  du  Chien  limestone  in .  .  133 

Quaternary  system  in .  163-181,  188-190 

Recent  series  in 180-181 

Rock  Island  (?)  coal  in.  154-156, 193-197 

rocks  exposed  in  or  near 136-164 

St.  Peter  sandstone  in 133-134 

sand  and  gravel  in 199 

Sangamon  soil  zone  in 173 

shipping  mines  in 196 

Silurian  system  in 135,  186 

stratigraphy  of 127-132 

structure  of  strata  in 181-185,  200 

Sweetland  Creek  shale  in 140-141 

terrace  deposits  in 179-180 

topography  of 121-125 

unconformities      in      Pennsyl- 

vanian  system  in 161,  163 

Wapsipinicon  limestone  in 136 

water  resources  of 202-208 

Edwardsville,   potash   content  of 

shales  near 437 

Eichenseer  well,  log  of 304 

Embayment  area,  clays  of 299-344 

elevation  of  deposits  of 309-310 

field  and  laboratory  notes  on 

clays  of 310-343 

subdivisions  of  deposits  of 302 

Exeter,  Cheltenham  clay  near 363 

test  of  clay  near 365-366 

Expenditures  for  the  fiscal  year 

1917  and  1918 22-23 

F 

Face  brick   clays,    characteristics 

of 286-287 

Farmington,  test  well  at 269 

Fayville,  alluvial  deposit  near 308 

clay  deposits  near 342 

McNairy  sand  near 303 

Ferril,  Wm  ,  clay  pit  of 317 

test  of  clay  from  pit  of 331 

Field,  O.  C,  description  of  clay 

pit  of 335 

test  of  clays  in  pit  of 336-337 

Fire  clay,  production  of 85 


PAGE 

use  of  term 281-283 

see  also  Clay 
Fire  clays  of  Illinois,  investigations 

of 272-417 

Fluorite,  occurrence  of 423-424 

properties  of 420-423 

uses  of 420-423 

value  of 420-423 

Fluorite  in  southern  Illinois 419-425 

Fluorspar,  bibliography  of Ill 

development  of 424-425 

mines  and  prospects  of 423-424 

production  of 35,  97-98,  99 

prospective  purchasers  of 424 

Ford,  E.  N.,  test  of  clay  from  farm 

of 353-354 

Forests,  effect  of 45-47 

Forncuff,   description   of   clay  on 

farm  of 372 

Fossils  in: 

Burlington   limestone   in   Avon 

and  Canton  quadrangles 219 

Carbondale  formation  in  Avon 

and  Canton  quadrangles 

232-233,238-240 

Devonian  limestone  in  Edging- 
ton  and  Milan  quadrangles .  .  136-140 

loess  deposits  of  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 176,  178,  179 

McLeansboro  formation  in 
Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles  246,248 

Pennsylvanian  system  in  Avon 

and  Canton  quadrangles 

. .  225-226,  232-233,  238-240,  246,  248 

Pennsylvanian  system  in  Edg- 
ington and  Milan  quad- 
rangles   

.  .145,  146, 147,  149-150,  156,  158-159 

Pottsville  strata  in  Avon  and 

Canton  quadrangles 225-226 

Pottsville  strata  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 145,  147 

Pre-Illinoian  deposits  in  Edg- 
ington and  Milan  quad- 
rangles  167-169 

Sweetland  Creek  shale  in  Edg- 
ington and  Milan  quad- 
rangles    140 

Franklin  County,  low-sulphur  coal 

in 433 


466 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Franklin,  fire  clay  near 363 

Frederick,  description  of  clay  pit 

at 370 

French  Clay  Blending  Company, 

description  of  clay  pit  of 313 

Fullers  earth,  development  of . .  .  .  105 

Fulton  County,  clays  in 298,  380 

occurrence  of  cannel  coal  in .  .  .  448 

tests  of  clays  in 380-381 

Fusion  tests  of  burned  clays 297-298 

G 

Galena,  mineral  deposits  near. . .  .      50-53 
Galesburg,     potash     content     of 

shales  near 437 

Gallatin  County,  shale  in 451 

tests  of  shale  in 451 

Gant,  Elmer,  description  of  clay 

mine  of 316-317 

tests  of  clay  from  mine  of 327-329 

Gas  in  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles  267-271 

Gas  in  glacial  drift  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 200-201 

see  also  Natural  gas 
Gasoline,  see  Natural-gas  gasoline 
Gates    Fire    Clay    Company,    de- 
scription of  clay  from  shaft  of.371-372 

test  of  clay  from  mine  of 376-377 

Geologic  history  of  the  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 185-190 

Geologic  history  of  the  State.  .  .  .     44-45 
Geological   surveys   in    1917    and 

1918 17 

Geology    of    Avon    and    Canton 

quadrangles 213-251 

Geology  of  Edgington  and  Milan 

quadrangles 127-190 

Girtyina  ventricosa .  .149,  156,  161,  243,  246 
Glass  Brick   Company,   fluorspar 

mine  of 423 

Glass  sand,  production  of 97 

Godfrey,  outcrop  of  fire  clay  near .  346 

Golconda,  fluorspar  mines  near .  .  .         424 
Golden  Eagle,  description  of  clay 

deposits  at 349 

test  of  clay  from  pit  at 349-350 

Goodman  pit,  description  of  clay 

from 313-315 

tests  of  clay  from 321-325 


PAGE 


Goose  Lake,  clay  deposits  near .  .  . 
298, 

tests  of  clay  from  pits  near. 
Gorman,    M.    J.    and    Company, 
description  of  clay  pit  of ...  . 

tests  of  clays  from  pit  of 

Grand  Chain,  clay  deposits  near.  . 
298,  302,  307,  309, 

tests  of  clay  deposits  near 

Gravel,  see  Sand  and  gravel 
Greene  County,  clays  in ...  .  298, 

tests  of  clays  in 

Greensand,  chemical  analyses  of. . 

deposits  of 306-307, 

Griffin,  clay  near 

Grinnell,  alluvial  deposit  near 
Grundy  County,  clays  in. .  .  .298, 

tests  of  clays  in 


H 

Hamletsburg,  alluvial  deposits  near  308 

Hardin  County,  fluorspar  in 

. . 97-98, 423-424 

53 

451 

298 


409- 

-410 

410- 

-413 

388 

395-398 

335- 

-336 

338- 

-340 

350 

-352 

352- 

-362 

435 

435-436 

381 

-383 

308 

409 

-410 

.410-413 

lead  and  silver  in 

tests  of  shale  in 

Henry  County,  clays  in 

Herrick    Clay    Manufacturing 

Company,  description  of  clay 

mine  of 389-390 

test  of  clay  from  mine  of 401-402 

Herrin  coal  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 241-245,  255 

Herrin    coal    in    Edgington    and 

Milan  quadrangles.  .156-161,  193-197 
Herrin  coal,  low-sulphur  content 

of 433-434 

Hicks,   C.   T.,   test  of  clay  from 

farm  of 357-358 

Highway  materials,  investigations 

of 18 

Hillermans    Landing,     greensand 

deposits  near 306-307,  435 

Hillview,  clay  deposits  near 350-351 

History  of  mineral  industries.  .  .  .    43-107 
Hoing  sand  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles,  presence  of ...  .  267-268 
Holbrook,  E.  A.,  work  of. . .  .428,  452,  454 

I 

lllinoian    till    in    Edgington    and 

Milan  quadrangles 169-173 


467 


Illinois  City,  pottery  clay  deposits 

near 151,198 

thickness  of  coals  in 192 

Illinois  Clay  Products  Company, 

description  of  clay  mine  of .  .  .  388-389 

test  of  clay  from  mine  of 398-400 

Illinois  Kaolin  Company,  descrip- 
tion of  clay  pits  of 

310-313,  315,  316,  317,  318 

tests  of  clays  from 320-321 

Information,  bureau  of 18-19 

Iron  industry,  history  of 81 

Iron,  production  of 80-81 


Jackson  County,  clays  in 303,  309 

low-sulphur  coal  in 433 

Jacksonville,  fire  clay  at 363 

Jefferson  County,  low-sulphur  coal 

in 433 

Jo    Daviess    County,    bituminous 

shales  in 444-447 

mineral  resources  in .  * 50-53 

tests  on  oil  rock  in 444-447 

Johnson  County,  analyses  of  gases 

from  shale  in 460 

analyses  of  light  oil  from  shale 

in 460 

analyses  of  tar  from  shale  in . .  .  459 

bituminous  shale  in 444,  453-460 

clays  in 298,301 

description  of  clay  deposits  in  .  .  413 

distribution       of       bituminous 

shales  in 456-457 

oil  yield  of  bituminous  shales  in         459 
stratigraphic  relations  cf  bitu- 
minous shales  in 455 

tests  on  bituminous  shales  in .  .  457-460 

tests  on  clays  in 414 

use  of  bituminous  shales  in ...  .         457 
Jonesboro,     potash     content     of 

shales  near 437,  440 

Joynt,  J.  W.,  description  of  clay 

pit  of 335-336 

test  of  clay  in  pit  of 337-338 

K 

Kangley,  clay  deposits  at 392 

test  of  clay  at 408-409 

Kankakee  County,  drain  tile  in .  .  .  89 

limestone  in 57 


PAGE 

Kansan    till    in    Edgington    and 

Milan  quadrangles 164-167 

Kaolin,  clay  deposits  near 309 

Kaolin,  characteristics  of 280 

Krey,  Frank,  work  of 451 

L 

Lafayette  formation,  section  of .  .  .  306,  307 

La  Salle,  cement  plant  at 93 

La  Salle  County,  clays  in .  .  .  298,  386-392 

St.  Peter  sandstone  in 93 

tests  of  clays  in 393-409 

Lead  industry,  history  of 50-53 

Lead,  production  of 52,  54-55 

Lead  and  zinc,  bibliography  of . .  .  Ill 
Lead  and  zinc  pigments,  see  Min- 
eral -pigments 
Lead  Hill,  fluorspar  mines  near .  .  .  423-424 
Lead  Hill  Lead  and  Spar  Com- 
pany, fluorspar  mine  of 424 

Lee  County,  potash  shale  in 105 

St.  Peter  sandstone  in 93 

Lime,  bibliography  of 112 

Lime  industry,  history  of 58-59 

production  of 35,  59 

Limestone,  average  price  of 58 

bibliography  of 112 

production  of 35,  55-58 

relative  importance  of  by  dis- 
tricts    57 

studies  of 18 

Limestone  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 263 

Limestone     in     Edgington     and 

Milan  quadrangles 198-199 

Lines,  E.  F.,  work  of '        299 

Loess  deposits  in  Edgington  and 
Milan  quadrangles,  character 

of 176-179 

Loess   formation   associated   with 

clays 308 

Logs  of  strata  penetrated  in  wells 
of,  in,  or  near: 

Canton 242 

Cuba 216-217 

Eichenseer  farm 304 

Milan  City 130-131 

Mitchell  and  Lynde 131 

Modern  Woodmen 129 

New  Philadelphia 217-218 


468 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Parlin     and     Orendorff     Plow 

Company 215-216 

Rock  Island 168 

Rock  Island  Brewing  Company         132 

Stoner  farm 304 

Tri-City  Railroad  Company  .  .  .  129-130 
Yates  Landing 304 

Lovington  Coal  Company,  occur- 
rence of  shale  in  mine  of ...  .         450 

Lowell,  clay  deposit  near 389 

test  of  clay  near 400-401 

Lowell  Stoneware  Company,  de- 
scription of  clay  from  pit  of .  .         389 
test  of  clay  from  pit  of 400 

Low-sulphur  coal,  description  of .  .  432-434 

Lutes ville,  Missouri,  clays  near ...  319 

M 

McDonough  County,  clays  in.298,  370-372 

tests  of  clays  in 373-380 

McLeansboro  and  Carbondale 
formations  in  Avon  and  Can- 
ton quadrangles 230-248 

McLeansboro  and  Carbondale 
formations  in  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 149,  156-161 

McNairy  sand,  character  of 

302,303-304,310 

Macomb,  clay  deposit  near 298,  371 

Macomb  Sewerpipe  Works,  de- 
scription of  clay  pit  of 371 

tests  of  clays  in  pit  of 373-374 

Maddox   and   Nixon,    description 

of  clay  mine  of 317 

tests  of  clay  from  mine  of 329-331 

Madison  County,  clays  in 298,  346 

tests  of  clays  in 346-348 

Maps  published  in  1917  and  1918 .     21-22 
Maquoketa    shale    in    Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 134-135 

Marseilles,  clay  deposits  near  298,  391-392 

test  of  clay  near 407-408 

Massac  County,  clays  in.  .  .  .298,  301,  310 

field  notes  on  clays  in 332-333 

greensand  deposits  in 435 

tests  of  clays  in 333-335 

Matherville,  anticline  near 200 

exposure  of  Herrin  coal  near. .  .  158,  195 
Mayfield,  Kentucky,  clays  near.  .  319 

Mercer  County,  clays  in 298,  381 

tests  of  clays  in 381-383 


PAGE 

Methods    of    testing    of    burned 

clays 294-298 

Metropolis,  McNairy  sand  near. .  303 

manufacture  of  pottery  at 309 

Meyers,  test  of  clay  from  mine  of  .379-380 

Midway  formation,  character  of .  . 

304-306,310 

Milan,  anticline  near 200 

log  of  city  well  of 130-131 

Milan  quadrangle,  absence  of  coal 

in 184 

alluvium  in 180-181 

Cambrian  system  in .  .  132-133,  185-186 
Carbondale  formation  in.  .156-161,  187 

Cedar  Valley  limestone  in 136 

cement  materials  in 199 

character  of  formations  in 127-181 

character  of  soils  in 201 

clays  in 197-198 

coal  resources  of 190-197 

columnar  section  in 128 

culture  in 126-127 

Devonian  system  in 136-141,  186 

drainage  of 125-126 

drift  gas  in 200-201 

fossils  in  loess  deposit  of .  .  176,  178,  179 
generalized  section  of  Devonian 

limestone  in 136-139 

generalized  section  of  Pennsyl- 
vania system  in 149 

geologic  history  of 185-190 

geology  of 127-190 

Illinoian  till  in 169-173 

Kansan  till  in 164-167 

limestone  in 198-199 

loess  deposit  in 175-179 

McLeansboro  formation  in ...  . 

149,156-161,187 

Maquoketa  shale  in 134-135 

mineral  resources  of 190-208 

Mississippian  system  in.  .  .  141,  186-187 

Niagaran  limestone  in 135 

oil  and  gas  possibilities  in 200-201 

Ordovician  system  in 133-135,  186 

Pennsylvanian  system  in .  .  141-163,  187 

Platteville  limestone  in 134 

Pleistocene  series  in. . .  164-180,  188-190 

position  of 121 

"Potsdam"  series  in 132-133 

Pottsville  formation  in. . .  .  141-156,  187 
Prairie  du  Chien  limestone  in.  .  133 


INDEX 


469 


PAGE 

Quaternary  system  in .  163-181,  188-190 

Recent  series  in 180-181 

Rock  Island  (?)  coal  in.  154-156, 193-197 

rocks  exposed  in  or  near 136-164 

St.  Peter  sandstone  in 133-134 

sand  and  gravel  in 199 

Sangamon  soil  zone  in 173 

shipping  mines  in 196 

Silurian  system  in 135,  186 

stratigraphy  of 127-132 

structure  of  strata  in 181-185,  200 

Sweetland  Creek  shale  in 140-141 

terrace  deposits  in 179-180 

topography  of 121-125 

unconformities    in    Pennsylva- 

nian  system  in 161,  163 

Wapsipinicon  limestone  in 136 

water  resources  of 202-208 

Miller,  CM.,  fluorspar  mine  of. .         424 
Mineral  industries,  effect  of  war 

upon 106-107 

importance  of 28-42 

rank  of 29,  42 

Mineral  pigments,  production  of  .  102-103 
Mineral  production  by  counties, 

1917  and  1918 38-39,  40-41 

Mineral  resources 25-112 

bibliography  of 107-112 

comparison  of  early  and  later 

development  of 105-107 

Pre-1818  period 47-78 

Mineral   resources   of   Avon   and 

Canton  quadrangles 251-271 

Mineral   resources    of    Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 190-208 

Mineral  waters,  production  of .  .  .  37 

Mississippian  system  in  Avon  and 

Canton  quadrangles 218-219 

Mississippian  system  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles.  141,  186-187 
Mitchell  and  Lynde,  log  of  well  of.  131 
Modern  Woodmen,  log  of  well  of.  129 
Modulus  of  rupture  of  raw  clays .  293-294 
Moline,  limestone  quarries  near.  .  198 

logs  of  wells  in 129-131 

Monroe    County,    description    of 

clay  deposits  in .  . 344 

tests  of  clays  in 344-345 

Morgan  County,  fire  clay  in 363 

Moultrie  County,  bituminous 

shales  in 444 


PAGE 

tests  of  shale  in 450 

Mound  City,  alluvial  deposit  near.         308 
Mountain     Glen,     clay     deposits 

near.  .298,  301,  302,  307,  309,  310-319 
location  of  clay  deposits  near .  .  318 

potash  content  of  shales  near .  .  440 

tests  of  clays  near 320-331 

Mountain  G len  shale,  correlation  of         452 
Murphy  sboro    coal,     low-sulphur 

content  of 433 

Murphysboro  coal,  see   also    Col- 
chester coal 
Muscatine,  section  of  Pleistocene 

strata  near 165-166 

N 
National  Clay  Company,  section 

of  pit  of 148 

National  Fireproofing   Company, 

description  of  clay  pits  of .  .  .  389-390 

tests  of  clay  from  pits  of 402-404 

Natural  cement,  production  of .  .  .  34 

Natural  gas,  bibliography  of 109-110 

production  of 98,  100-101 

value  of 32 

Natural-gas   gasoline,   production 

of 36,  104-105 

Natural  gas  industry,  history  of.-.  98 

Newberry,  S.  B.,  process  of  potash 

recovery 437 

New   Columbia,    alluvial   deposit 

near 308 

section  of  bluff  at 301 

New  Philadelphia,  log  of  well  near.217-218 

water  supply  of 267 

Niagaran  limestone  in  Avon  and 
Canton  quadrangles,  oil  pos- 
sibilities of 268 

Niagaran  limestone  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 135 

No.  1  coal,  see  Rock  Island  coal 
No.  2  coal,  see  Colchester  coal 
No.  5  coal,  see  Springfield  coal 
No.  6  coal,  see  Herrin  coal 
No.  7  coal  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles, 245-248,  255 

Northern    Illinois,    production    of 

lead  in 50-53 

Northwestern  Clay  Manufactur- 
ing Company,  description  of 

clay  pit  of 381 

test  of  clay  from  pit  of 381-383 


470 


O  PAGE 

Oakdale,  anticline  near 200 

Obermark,  C.  G.  F.,  clay  on  farm 

of 333 

test  of  clay  on  farm  of 334-335 

Ogle  County,  St.  Peter  sandstone 

in 93 

Oglesby,  cement  plant  at 93 

clay  mines  near 298 

Oil  and  gas,  studies  of 16-17 

see  also  Petroleum 
Oil  and  gas  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 267-271 

Oil  and  gas  in  Edgington  and 
Milan  quadrangles,  possibili- 
ties of 200-201 

Oil  and  gas  investigations 16-17 

Oil-bearing  horizons  in  Avon  and 

Canton  quadrangles 267-268 

Oil  rock,  origin  of 447 

Oil  shale,  bibliography  of 111-112 

"Oil  shale,"  use  of  term 442-444 

see  also  Bituminous  shale 
Olmsted,     deposits     of     Midway 

formation  near 304 

description  of  clay  deposits  near         336 

Fullers  earth  in 105 

greensand  deposits  near 435 

tests  of  clay  deposits  near 340-342 

Optical  fluorite  in  southern  Illi- 
nois  419-425 

Optical  fluorite,  occurrence  of ...  .  423-424 

properties  of 420-423 

uses  of 420-423 

value  of 420-423 

Ordovician     system,     bituminous 

shales  in 444 

Ordovician  system  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles .  133-135,  186 
Ottawa,  clay  deposits  near. .  .  298,  390-391 

test  of  clay  from  pits  near 403-405 

Ozark,  cannel  coal  near 413 

oil  shale  near 413 

test  of  clay  near 414 

Ozark  oil-shale,  location  of 454 

P 

Paducah  Pottery  Company,  de- 
scription of  clay  pit  of 332 

Paleozoic  rocks  in  Edgington  and 
Milan  quadrangles,  structure 
of 181-185 


PAGE 

Parlin  and  Orendorff  Plow  Com- 
pany, log  of  well  of 215-216 

Parmelee,  C.  W.,  work  of 272-417 

Parr,  S.  W.,  work  of 439 

Paving  brick  clays,  characteristics 

of 286 

Peacock,  Samuel,  process  of  pot- 
ash recovery 437 

Peat,  production  of 103-104 

Pennsylvanian  clay  deposits,  field 

and  laboratory  notes  on 344-414 

Pennsylvanian  strata  in  Avon  and 
Canton  quadrangles,  correla- 
tion of 220 

description  of 219-248 

fossils  in 

. .225-226,  232-233,  238-240,  246,  248 

structure  of 248-251 

Pennsylvanian  strata  in  Edging- 
ton and   Milan  quadrangles, 

description  of 141-163 

fossils  in 

145,  146,  147,  149-150,  156,  158-159 

generalized  section  of 149 

structure  of 183-185 

Pennsylvanian  system,  bitumin- 
ous shales  in 444 

Pennsylvanian  system  in  Edging- 
ton and   Milan  quadrangles, 

unconformities  in 161,  163 

Perry  County,  low-sulphur  coal  in         433 

Petroleum,  bibliography  of 109-110 

production  of 32,  98,  100-101 

value  of 32 

see  also  Oil 
Petroleum  industry,  history  of .  .  .    98-101 
Physical  properties  of  clays.  .278,  287-298 
Physical  tests  of  clays,  tabulation 

of 414-417 

Pierce,  H.  B.  and  Walter,  fluorspar 

mine  of 424 

Pig  iron,  production  of 81 

Pike  County,  clays  in 298 

description  of  clay  deposits  in .  .  366-367 

tests  of  clays  in 367-370 

Pittsfield,  clay  deposits  near ....         367 

tests  of  clays  near 367-370 

Platteville   limestone    in   Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles.  134 
Pleistocene   clay   deposits 308-309 


471 


PAGE 

Pleistocene    series    in    Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 164-180 

Pliocene  deposits,  character  of .  .  .  307-308 

Pogue,  Joseph  E.,  work  of 419-425 

Pomona,  clays  near 303 

Pope  County,  clays  in 298,  301,  309 

Population,     distribution     of     in 

1820 46 

Porosity  of  burned  clays 297 

Portland  cement  materials  in 
Edgington  and  Milan  quad- 
rangles    199 

Portland  cement,  production  of .  .  34 

value  of 34 

Potash  as  by-product  in  cement 

manufacture 437-440 

Potash,  bibliography  of Ill 

development  of 105 

recovery  of 436 

Potash  possibilities,  notes  on 435-440 

Pottery  clay,  occurrence  of  near 

Illinois  City 151 

Pottery,  production  of 33 

Pre-Illinoian  deposits  in  Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles.  .  167-169 
Pottsville  formation,   bituminous 

shales  in 455 

Pottsville  formation  in  Avon  and 
Canton  quadrangles,  descrip- 
tion of 220-230 

fossils  in 225-226 

Pottsville  formation  in  Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles, 

description  of 141-156 

fossils  in 145,  147 

occurrence  of  conglomerate  in .  .  144-146 
occurrence  of  shale  and  sand- 
stone in 144,  146-147 

sections  of 146,  147, 

148,  149,  151,  152,  153,  154,  155 
"Potsdam"    series    in    Edgington 
and   Milan   quadrangles,   de- 
scription of 132-133 

Prairie  du  Chien  limestone  in  Edg- 
ington and  Milan  quad- 
rangles   133 

Prairies,  effect  of 47 

Pre-Illinoian  deposits  in  Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles, 

description  of 167-169 

fossils  of 167,  169 


PAGE 

sections  of 168 

Pre-Pennsylvanian  rocks  in  Edg- 
ington and  Milan  quad- 
rangles, structure  of 181-183 

Properties  of  burned  clays 294-298 

Publications  in  1917  and  1918 .  .  .      21-22 
Pulaski,  alluvial  deposits  near.  .  .  .  308 

Pulaski  County,  clays  in 298,  309,  310 

exposure  of  Wilcox  group  in .  .  .  306-307 

field  notes  on  clays  in 335-336 

greensand  deposits  in 435 

tests  of  clays  in 336-342 

Pyrite,  bibliography  of Ill 

distribution  of 429 

form  of  occurrence  of 430 

production  of 37,  103-104 

recovery  of 429,  430-431 

studies  of 16 

Pyrite  inventory  of  1918 427-431 

Pyrite  investigations 16 

Pyrometric  methods  used  for  test- 
ing of  burned  clays 294-295 

0 

Quaternary  clay  deposits 308-309 

Quaternary  system  in  Avon  and 

Canton  quadrangles 214 

Quaternary  system  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 163-181 

R 

Raum,  clays  near 302,  309 

Raw  clays,  bonding  strength  of.  .  293 

modulus  of  rupture  of 293-294 

properties    of 290-294 

shrinkage  of 290 

slaking  of 292-293 

testing  methods  of 290-294 

texture  of 292 

transverse  strength  of 293 

water  of  plasticity  content  of.  .291-292 
Recent  series   in   Edgington   and 

Milan  quadrangles 180-181 

Recommendations  for  drilling  in 
Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles  270-271 

Refractory    clays,    characteristics 

of 281-283 

Ripley,  clay  deposits  near 370 

Ripley  formation,  character  of.  .  .303-304 
Ripley  sand  near  Cairo 302 


472 


INDEX 


PAGE 

Rock   Island  Brewing  Company, 

log  of  well  of 132 

Rock  Island,  clay  deposit  near.  .  .  298 

logs  of  wells  in 129-132,  168 

Rock   Island   coal   in   Avon   and 

Canton  quadrangles.223-226, 252-253 
Rock  Island  (?)  coal  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 

154-156,  193-197 

Rock  Island  County,  clays  in. .  .  .298,  383 

tests  of  clays  in 383-386 

Rosebud,  section  near 301 

Round  Knob,  description  of  clays 

near 332-333 

section  of  McNairy  sand  near. .  304 

test  of  clay  near 333-334 

S 

Saggar  clays,  properties  of 285-286 

St.  Clair,  clay  deposits  near 298 

St.  Clair,  Stuart,  work  of 299,  313 

St.  Peter  sandstone  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 133-134 

Salt,  history  of 49-50 

production  of 49-50 

Sand  and  gravel,  bibliography  of.  112 

production  of 34,  94-96 

relative  rank  of 93 

studies  of 18 

see  also  Glass  sand 
Sand  and  gravel  deposits  in  Avon 

and  Canton  quadrangles ....  263 
Sand     and     gravel     deposits     in 
Edgington  and  Milan  quad- 
rangles   199 

Sand    dunes    in    Edgington    and 

Milan  quadrangles 181 

Sandstone  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 263 

Sandstone,  production  of 35 

Sangamon     County,     bituminous 

shales  in 444 

tests  of  shale  in 450 

Sangamon  soil  zone  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles 173-174 

Sanitary    ware    clays,    character- 
istics of 286 

Savage,T.E.,work  of.  11 5-208, 209-27 1,448 

Scott  County,  clays  in 298 

description  of  clay  deposits  in. .  362-363 
tests  of  clays  in 364-366 


PAGE 

Schroyer,  C.  R.,  work  of  .272-417,  435-440 

Schuyler  County,  bituminous 

shales  in 444 

clays  in 298,  370 

tests  of  shale  from 448-449 

Sears,  clay  at 383-384 

limestone  deposits  near 198 

sections  of  strata  near 148 

Seville,  coal  near 223-224 

Shale  in  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles  261-262 

Shale    in    Edgington    and    Milan 

quadrangles 197-198 

Shales,  use  of  in  cement  and  pot- 
ash production 437-440 

Sherrard,  coal  in  mine  at 160-161 

section   of   Pleistocene   deposit 

near 164-165 

Shrinkage  of  burned  clays 297 

Shrinkage  of  raw  clays 290 

Sifford,  T.  P.,  description  of  clay 

pit  of 317 

Silica,  see  Tripoli 

Silurian  system  in  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 135 

Silver  industry,  history  of 50-53 

Silver,  production  of 37,  54 

Slaking  of  raw  clays 292-293 

Slip  clay,  source  of 309 

Soils  in  Avon  and  Canton  quad- 
rangles, character  of 264-265 

Soils    in    Edgington    and    Milan 

quadrangles,  character  of. .  .  201 

Soils,  importance  of 48 

Southern    Illinois,    production    of 

lead  in 53 

Spicer  Coal  Company,  clay  from 

mine  of 391-392 

Sporangites  huronense  in  Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles, 
occurrence  of 140 

Sporangites  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles,  occurrence  of.  .  .216,  217 

Springfield  coal  in  Avon  and  Can- 
ton quadrangles .  .  .  235-240,  254-255 

Springfield,     potash    content    of 

shales  near 437 

test  of  shale  near 449-450 

Spring     Lake     Coal     Company, 

description  of  clay  from  shaft  of        392 
test  of  clay  from  shaft  of 408-409 


473 


PAGE 

Stone,  Frank,  section  of  oil  shale  in 

pit  of 456 

test  of  clay  from  farm  of 414 

Stoner  well,  log  of 304 

Stoneware  clays,  character  of ...  .         285 
Stratigraphy  of  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 214-248 

Stratigraphy    of    Edgington    and 

Milan  quadrangles 127-132 

Streator,  clay  deposists  near 392 

potash  content  of  shales  near .  .  437 

Streator  Clay  Manufacturing 
Company,  description  of  clay 

from  shaft  of 392 

test  of  clay  from  shaft  of 408 

Structure  of  strata  in  Avon  and 

Canton  quadrangles 248-251 

Structure  of  strata  in  Edgington 

and  Milan  quadrangles. .  181-185,  200 

Sulphur  content  of  coals 429-430 

Sulphur,  national  situation  of ...  .  427-429 
Sulphuric  acid,  production  of .  .  .  .  102 

Sweetland  Creek  shale  in  Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles.  .  140-141 


Tabulation    of    certain    physical 

tests  of  clays 414-417 

Temple  Hill,  alluvial  deposit  near  308 
Tennessee,  clay  deposits  near ....  370 
Terra    cotta    clay,    architectural, 

character  of 284-285 

Terrace  deposits  in  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 179-180 

Tertiary  clay  deposits 

299-301,  303,  304-308 

Test  pieces,  formation  of 289-290 

Test  wells  in  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 269 

Testing  clays,  methods  of 287-298 

Tests  of  clays,  tabulation  of 414-417 

Texture  of  raw  clays 292 

Topographic  work 10,  19-21 

Topography  of  Avon  and  Canton 

quadrangles 213 

Topography    of    Edgington    and 

Milan  quadrangles 121-125 

Transportation,     effect     on     coal 

development 44,  63-65 

Transverse  strength  of  raw  clays .  293 


"Trenton"  formation  in  Avon  and 
Canton  quadrangles,  oil  pos- 
sibilities of 268 

Tri-City  Railroad  Company,  log 

of  well  of 129-130 

Tripoli,  bibliography  of Ill 

production  of 37,  103 

Twin  Bluffs,  clay  deposits  at.  .  .  .389-390 
test  of  clay  near 401-403 

U 

Udden,  J.  A.,  work  of 117-208 

Ullin,  alluvial  deposit  near 308 

Unconformities  within  the  Penn- 
sylvanian  system  in  Edging- 
ton and  Milan  quadrangles.  .  161,  163 

Union  County,  clays  in 

298,  299,  303,  307,  309,  319 

description  of  bituminous  shale 

in 451-453 

field  notes  on  clays  in 310-319 

tests  of  bituminous  shales  in . .  .  453 

tests  of  clays  in 320-331 

tripoli  in 103 

Uses  of  clays 280-287,  417 

Utica,  clay  near 

298,  386-388,  392,  393-398 

natural  cement  at 90-93 

tests  of  clays  near 393-398 

Utica  Fire  Brick  and  Clay  Com- 
pany, description  of  clay  pits 

of 386-388 

tests  of  clay  in  pits  of 393-395 


Valentine,  description  of  clay  mine 

on  farm  of 372 

test  of  clay  from  farm  of 377-379 

Vienna,  clay  near 301 

W 

Wapsipinicon  limestone  in  Edg- 
ington and  Milan  quadrangles         136 

Warren  County,  clays  in 298 

Water  in  Edgington  and  Milan 
quadrangles,  chemical  analy- 
ses of 204-207 

Water  of  plasticity  content  of  raw 

clays 291-292 

Water  power  in  Edgington  and 
Milan  quadrangles,  develop- 
ment of 208 


474 


PAGE 

Water    resources    of     Avon    and 

Canton  quadrangles 265-267 

Water  resources  of  Edgington  and 

Milan  quadrangles 202-208 

Waters,  value  of 37,  48-49 

Westhafer,  T.  O.,  work  of . .  .  .450,  452,  453 

White,  David,  work  of 447 

Whitehall,  fire  clay  deposits  at. .  .350-352 

test  of  clays  near 358-362 

Wilcox  group,  section  of 306-307 

Will  County,  limestone  in 57 

Williamson    County,    low-sulphur 

coal  in 433 


Winchester,  D.  E.,  work  of, 


PAGE 

451 


Y 

Yarmouth  interglacial  stage  in 
Edgington  and  Milan  quad- 
rangles    167 

Yates  Landing,  log  of  well  near .  .  .  304 

Z 

Zinc,  bibliography  of Ill 

production  of 36,  54 

Zinc  industry,  history  of 50-53 


^r 


6*k_ 


